#and obi-wan thinks palpatine will have him killed to further his political power

[multistoty]

“Who is more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?” - from anakin

"Obi-wan is no fool," Padme said coldly to the man she loved. The man she was certain still lurked beyond the fabric of whatever darkness had taken advantage of the absence of his light. The senator had followed many lost causes and come out the other end. The master might think his apprentice was unsaveable , but the woman carrying his children knew better. Children. She had only just learned about the second baby when the world had gone to hell and back. Mustafar was hell as far as the chocolate haired girl was concerned. It felt like burning in an inferno and the loss of her hope had taken to it's ground. She may love him despite what he had had done, but the former queen would not allow herself to fall prey to his new morals. Obi-wan and the republic were futures that boy in the outer rim should have had. They had both been so willing to die and kill for it. She probably would have thrown herself and her blaster into battle against the empire he spoke of if she were not the only protective home for their younglings at the moment. She found her body shaking as the unshed tears made an angry and devastated path passed the dams she had created. After all, the Skywalker patriarch could never be met with any mask wether it was Amidala or the certain unmovable reputation she had with even the closest of their circle. Obi-wan was like their father. A grandfather or uncle to their children. She refused to allow them to play war with one another even if it killed her. Her republic had already been taken from her with the man she had once thought of as a friend. She could still remember telling him her plan after the term amidala had for being queen in freeing the slaves on Tatooine even if she had to buy them up herself. The world this little boy had shown her and stayed with her. The man she was forged for as she reached to take his strong hand in her own. Pressing a kiss to the ring that sat there. It was usually hidden though always on the pair. Hers sat in the ties of her corset as it had to be hidden. If it had to be hidden, it would be best hidden under the art work of her Nabooian gown in the place closest to her heart. The deep red in her outfit that almost looked like a plum purple felt more like the blood of the insists that his misguided attempts at love had made her equally guilty of. Maybe she wasn't white as snow for she couldn't forsake him. Couldn't turn around and forget him even after what he had done. Even in the absolute rage and concern that warred in her. Kenobi hadn't even been wrong when she wanted him to be that Ani had done this. He had slaughtered the innocent babes like their twins and the separatists on this planet. His blue eyes were a sickly yellow that broke her soul. But he loved her. That much was clear. Her free hand shook as it found the home in that mop of blonde hair after all. "He may have been wrong in thinking you would hurt me or the babies, but he is okay with us. He loves you like I love you, Ani. Neither of us wanted to believe it and I can't imagine he would have the strength to kill you even if it is some force equation. You have taken the politic world I have built my entire life allow me the respect of letting our found family live and thrive in our lives. For our babies to know the man that basically raised the senator and the jedi. I am no fool for believing the good in people. I am no fool for believing in peace when we have been so broken by war. We are a team. You could have come to me. You could have come to him! Please. Please don't break me any further under your feet, my love. You can't kill him too. Or Ahsoka either. Promise me. Promise me Palpatine won't touch them or our younglings. I love you. I love you so much. We can not change the past, but we have the power in the present to learn from it and create a better future. I am not stupid to believe in our love. To believe in the world I wanted for my children. Please. You once thought me an angel. Once thought me brilliant. Would I steer you wrong?

He is not trying to take me from you. I don't feel for him that way, but I do not need him around. there is so much we can change."

[tennessoui]

OOOOOOOOOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the prompts - childhood best friend au bc i’m a sucker for them

- tealbluemagic

ah yikes i had thought and scripted like....two more scenes of them actually growing up (16/20 and 22/26) in my head dialogue and all but suddenly this was 2.3k because once again i was worldbuilding my cares away RIP!! palpatine was supposed to be the evil adviser it was gonna be great sad days.

2. Childhood best friends AU (medieval, fantasy, royalty AU--whichever term conveys the absolute zero amount of fact-checking that I have done)

They meet when Anakin is seven and Obi-Wan eleven.

Anakin’s tutor wants him to write lines. Again. According to the man, his letters do not look kingly enough.

Thank the gods that he set him to work and then left to flirt with the chambermaid. Otherwise, he probably would have had something very mean to say about the lack of kingliness that is required to climb out the window and down the ivy creeping up the castle.

Anakin lands on his feet and looks up in time to see his tutor’s red face in the window. “Prince Anakin!” The man yells, but no one is around to grab at him and he’s a very fast runner, even at the age of seven. He takes off to the gardens, laughing in joy at the freedom of it all.

Through the gardens and at the edge of the grounds are the stables. He’s not allowed to go there yet, because he is so small and the horses so big. It’ll be the last place they’ll check for him.

Anakin bursts through the doors and runs headlong into another boy, knocking him clean off his feet and into a pile of straw.

“Hey!” The boy shouts, shoving Anakin harshly off of him, face turning almost as red as his hair. Anakin blinks stupidly up at him as he rises and puts his hands on hips. “Who do you think you are?”

“I come seeking shelter and refuge as the prince of the kingdom of Tatooine,” Anakin blurts out the phrase he’s been taught to say should he ever find himself in danger in a new land.

Both of the boy’s eyebrows go up, and he looks scared for a second, which Anakin doesn’t understand. He’s much bigger than Anakin is and he’s still standing all angry over him. If anything, Anakin should be the one scared.

“Uh. Okay. Yeah, you can stay,” the boy says, backing away and crossing his arms over his chest defensively. “Just please don’t tell anyone I shoved you, your um highness. I need this job.”

Anakin lifts his hand so the boy can help him up, but the other boy doesn’t do anything but stare at it with a furrowed brow. “You may help me stand,” Anakin prompts him.

“Shouldn’t be touching no prince,” the boy mumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets. “People can get killed for less.”

“Well, I want you to help me,” Anakin says, glaring at the boy who’s being very stubborn and silly right now. “I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

The boy looks skeptical, but takes his hand in his.

“What’s your name?” He asks him as he brushes off his fine clothes.

Now the boy just looks reluctant, but he must know better than to disobey a command from his sovereign, even when the sovereign in question is a child, because he crosses his arms over his chest and mumbles out, “Obi-Wan, milord.”

“I’m Anakin,” Anakin says, even though the boy probably knows this. It’s still only polite and his mother has always told him that being polite is one of the best things a prince can be.

“Yeah,” the boy says. Maybe his mother had never given him the same lesson. “I have to get back to work now, milord,” he turns before Anakin dismisses him, which is quite unheard of. Maybe Obi-Wan’s never been to court. Judging by the state of his clothes and the dirt on his face and beneath his nails, Anakin decides that’s probably true.

“What are you doing?” Anakin asks curiously, following behind the boy. It’s just he doesn’t meet a lot of boys his age and sure, this boy seems a bit mean and certainly at least a little uncivilized, but he still let Anakin stay.

“Shoveling horse shit,” Obi-Wan says. “Would you like to help?”

Anakin wrinkles his nose. “What’s up there?” he asks, pointing to a ladder as they pass it.

“That’s where we keep the hay. And it’s where I sleep.”

“You sleep here?”

Obi-Wan doesn’t respond, but his cheeks grow a dull sort of red.

Tactfully, Anakin changes the subject. “What else do you do?”

“Feed the horses, brush them, put them out to pasture, call them in, brush them again,” Obi-Wan lists. “When a nobleman wants to ride, I tack up their steed for them.”

A horse blows out a breath, right near Anakin’s face and he flinches, clinging onto the back of Obi-Wan’s shirt automatically. “And they let you?” he asks, trying to sound like he isn’t frightened.

“They don’t have much choice,” Obi-Wan says, smiling a bit as if something is funny. “Bit of a luxury around here, choice is.”

“What happens if they don’t?” Anakin asks, deciding to not let go of Obi-Wan’s shirt. Any proper gentleman or lady would have offered to let him hold their hand by now, but Obi-Wan is rough around the edges. Anakin finds that he doesn’t mind much.

Obi-Wan casts a look at him from the corner of his eye that Anakin doesn’t know how to interpret. “They get whipped.”

Anakin gasps in shock. “That’s so barbaric!”

The other boy snorts and shakes his head, as if Anakin is just too dumb to understand. “What are you doing here, little Prince?” Obi-Wan asks as he finishes dumping a pail of water into a horse’s bucket. “Why're you running?”

“My tutor was being absolutely awful,” Anakin replies with a pout. Obi-Wan hums, grabbing a shovel from where it’s leaned against a wooden door and carrying it to an empty stall. He follows him, wanting a proper response from the other boy. All that writing had been hurting his hand! The tutor is so unfair and mean and evil, and Anakin deserved to be treated with dignity and respect!

He tells all of this to Obi-Wan as he paces in the tight space of the stall, the other boy occasionally making noises to show he’s listening as he goes about his work.

“I don’t know what sort of problem he has with my letters! I know all of them now! Isn’t that enough?” Anakin asks angrily, crossing his arms. He’s tired and wants to sit down, but it smells poorly here. Maybe he can convince Obi-Wan to go to the ponds with him?

But Obi-Wan pauses, leaning against the handle of his shovel to look at Anakin. “You shouldn’t be complainin’ about getting to learn to read and write,” Obi-Wan says and then hastily tacks on, “milord.”

“But I don’t like it, and I shouldn’t have to do things I don’t like,” Anakin protests.

Obi-Wan smiles in a funny way. “You think I like shoveling shit, do you? But someone has to do it.”

“Are you saying that someone has to read and w--”

Obi-Wan interrupts him loudly. No one’s ever really done that before.

“I’m sayin’ that reading and writing is a...a privilege, milord.” He says the word privilege like he hasn’t ever said it before, like someone had said it around him and he’d memorized the sound and played it back in his head every night.

Anakin pouts, and Obi-Wan must see the look on his face because he softens his voice when he speaks again. “There’re...people who would kill for a teacher and they got none. If I was you, I wouldn’t ever leave my lessons early.”

Anakin crosses his arms. “But you’re not me. And I get to do whatever I want.”

It’s like a wall comes up between them. “That’s a luxury too, milord,” Obi-Wan says, turning away. “Excuse me. I need to work.”

The way he says this makes it clear that he doesn’t want Anakin around him anymore. “Fine!” Anakin snaps, face pulled up into a scowl. He pushes past Obi-Wan as hard as he can, hoping he can make the boy fall again, and leaves the way he’s come.

How dare the little stable boy try to correct Anakin’s behavior, when he’s the one with dirt all over his face!

He storms back to the castle and is in a horrifically terrible mood the entire rest of the night, right up until he goes to bed. Obi-Wan doesn’t know anything about anything, Anakin tries to reassure himself. He should have never met him.

He flips onto his side in bed, scowling even harder when his eyes alight onto the practice papers his tutor had left for him.

In his mind, Obi-Wan’s words repeat even louder. If I was you, I wouldn’t ever leave my lessons early.

Anakin rolls away until he can stare up at the ceiling.

He’d wanted a friend, but Obi-Wan clearly hadn’t wanted Anakin there at all. He wouldn’t have made a good friend at all. Anakin should just forget him.

But he can’t. He wants Obi-Wan to like him, although he can’t understand why or how to proceed.

He flips back to face the room again, too restless for sleep.

Inspiration strikes quite suddenly, making him sit up in his bed.

There’s one thing he could do that would make Obi-Wan like him. But there’s no time to waste.

He hastily dresses in his discarded clothes from yesterday and grabs two of the books on his desk. There’s a leather satchel hanging from his wardrobe that he’s never used before, but it’s the perfect size now. He slings it over his little shoulders and leaves as quietly as he can.

It’s a dangerous but relatively short journey back to the stables. The gardens look much scarier at night, but Anakin is being so brave about it. He’s on a quest. He clutches his satchel to his chest at every jumping shadow, but he makes it to the stable door and then through it.

The ladder he had pointed out earlier is a few steps into the barn, past two stalls. The horses look much scarier now that he’s here alone; their eyes seem to glow in the dark. He scuttles past them and grabs at the first wooden beam. Obi-Wan. He’s doing this for Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan, who is asleep among the hay, just at the top of the ladder. He’s curled up beneath a couple of blankets. He looks angry even in his sleep.

Anakin crawls forward and shakes him awake.

“Wha--” Obi-Wan jerks up.

Anakin clutches his package to his chest and sits cross-legged in front of him. “It’s me!”

“What?” The other boy asks, rubbing at his eyes. Anakin pouts. Has Obi-Wan really forgotten him in such a short period of time? That’s hardly fair, considering the fact that Anakin has not stopped thinking of him at all.

“It’s Anakin,” he says. “I came back.”

“Why?” Obi-Wan asks, squinting at him in the light of the moon that filters through the single window.

Anakin pouts harder. “I brought my stuff,” he says. It had seemed like such a brilliant idea, not even an hour ago, but in the face of Obi-Wan’s incredulity, Anakin only feels stupid. He pulls out the books anyway. “I thought. Well. That maybe I could teach you.”

Obi-Wan sits up all the way at this and bends forward to study the covers, although Anakin is sure he doesn’t understand the letters written on them. .

“Teach me?” Obi-Wan asks.

Anakin huffs. This is going to become quite a tedious conversation if all Obi-Wan does is repeat fragments of what Anakin says. “To read and to write.”

“Why?” he asks, but different than he had asked before.

He doesn’t think because I want you to like me would satisfy Obi-Wan now, and even Anakin knows it’s a rather weak explanation.

“Because...you want to know,” Anakin settles on saying, “and my mother always says that a king should do what he can to satisfy the desires of the kingdom.”

“Oh well,” Obi-Wan scoffs. “If the Queen says so.”

Anakin withdraws, stung at the other boy’s standoffish attitude. “Never mind,” he mumbles, reaching for the satchel to put away the books. “It was stupid.”

Obi-Wan’s hand flashes out to stop him. “No,” he says. “No, I’m sorry. I. Thank you, milord for this. You don’t know what you’re offering.”

“I’m offering you some lessons,” Anakin responds slowly. Maybe Obi-Wan had missed that part?

In the moonlight, Obi-Wan’s smile breaks across his face like a sunrise. “Of course, milord.”

“Call me Anakin,” Anakin demands. He wants a friend, not someone who will bow to his title or shy away from his crown. He wants an equal, a familiar. He wants Obi-Wan to treat him as if they carried the same amount of dirt and grime on their skin.

“Of course, Anakin,” Obi-Wan whispers, like he’s breaking a rule and afraid he’ll get caught. “But….”

“But what?” Anakin asks, scooting closer now that he knows he probably won’t be kicked off the loft to be fed to the horses in the morning.

“Did you bring a light to read by?” Obi-Wan asks, looking around his bare accommodations.

Anakin bites his lip and looks too, but the search is fruitless. “Well,” he says. “No.” The truth is that in the castle there’s always light when he needs light. There are always servants, ready to bustle in and solve his slightest inconvenience. He had never thought of light as a--what had Obi-Wan said earlier? A luxury.

“Oh,” Obi-Wan whispers, tracing the cover of the book with something like longing.

“I’ll come back tomorrow,” Anakin finds himself promising. “I’ll bring a candle or something. I will. Tomorrow night.”

“Really?” The other boy’s voice seems to get caught in his throat because it comes out sounding much weaker and higher than it ever has.

Anakin nods. He would. He’d come back every night for the rest of his life if it meant Obi-Wan would like him, if it meant they could be friends. “I promise,” he says, reaching out with his smallest finger.

Obi-Wan looks at it for a second before linking their fingers together. “Okay, milord,” he says. “I believe you.”

[stonefreeak]

OH WOW, LOOK AT THE TIME. AHAHAHHAHAHAAAAA... oops?

Anakin can't believe what he's hearing and seeing. He can't believe that the investigation really would find something on Palpatine. The man has been nothing but devoted to the welfare of the galaxy for years! There's no way that he would do something like this. There just isn't.

Just then, something Palpatine said to him comes back with a vengeance. "Well, I know my innocence, so I feel that I have little to fear… Unless, of course, someone has tampered with evidence or files to implicate me, of course."

He feels cold, shudders and shivers running through him and immediately it's as if a hand is holding his throat. Not squeezing, just holding there, like a threat, making his throat feel clogged and his breathing speed up.

Could someone have interfered with the investigation and planted evidence against Palpatine? It is possible that all of this is a sham of a trial, held on false evidence? Palpatine suggested the possibility after all, surely that must mean that he suspected he might have a political rival willing to stop at nothing to smear him?

... It... It can't have been Obi-Wan, can it?

All of this began with Obi-Wan, after all. Obi-Wan took over Palpatine's position, ousting him from office without a shred of remorse. Obi-Wan locked himself in his room after that Senator had suggested it... Was he plotting something? Working on how to make his plans proceed even as he pretended that he was just an unwilling Jedi Master being put in an impossible situation his sense of duty wouldn't let him ignore?

Because... Obi-Wan was the one who confiscated Palpatine's possession and it was Obi-Wan who started this infernal investigation in the first place! Maybe he planted information while he did his "research" into Palpatine's conduct?

Maybe... Maybe this has all been a bid for power and Obi-Wan's been lying to Anakin all along. Maybe that's why he hasn't given up his place on the Jedi high Council or his place as a High General of the GAR.

Pressing his palms against his eyes, Anakin grits his teeth and breathes harshly through his nose, trying desperately to get it together. Is it really possible that Obi-Wan would do such a thing?

... He would if the Council ordered him to. But that... that doesn't make sense either, does it? Why would the Jedi want to be in charge of the Republic anyway? There's nothing in it for them, not really.

And the only thing Obi-Wan's really done since coming into office is being a stabilising influence on the political scene, start investigations he doesn't participate in, and send laws out to be deliberated on by groups of senators without his presence. Padmé has said all of that, has talked at length about what good she thinks Obi-Wan is doing in the Senate.

But... What if... What if...

He pulls his hands away and straightens, suddenly feeling the way Padmé's hand is rubbing his shoulder. He glances up at her, but her eyes are still trained at the screens.

There's a smile on her face. She looks pleased. There's a light in her eyes and Anakin can tell that she thinks this is right, that she doesn't harbour any sort of suspicions against the investigation.

But... But it all fits so neatly together. It makes sense that Obi-Wan would have set everything up.

Except then, like lightning from clear skies, he remembers something incredibly important, something he had overlooked.

Senator Mandai is a Naangni from the planet Haa'ndu.

All Naangni are impervious to Force suggestions.

There is no way Obi-Wan could have influenced her into doing what she did, not unless he did it entirely without the Force. But that would have taken time and effort, and Obi-Wan had been off Coruscant almost as much as Anakin had before that session ever happened.

It's as if a huge weight is lifted from his shoulders, and he almost wants to cry.

Obi-Wan hasn't orchestrated all of this in some mad bid for power.

It's such a relief to realise that he'd simply jumped to conclusions that Anakin nearly forgets that it means that Palpatine really must be guilty of these crimes. That he really must have abused his position and accepted bribes.

Anakin feels cold, like he can't breathe.

That means that Anakin was wrong.

And Obi-Wan was right.

~~~~

Padmé feels like she's torn between satisfaction and dismay as she watches the results of the trial come in. On one hand, she feels like this further proves that her realisation that Palpatine used her when she was still Queen is true, because clearly it was not the only time Palpatine decided to ignore convention, the law, and his duty to do something that improved his own standing above everything else.

On the other hand, however, she's watching a man she long considered a mentor be proved a corrupt liar, who missed the fact that his close colleague and the Vice Chair of the Galactic Senate was beyond corrupt.

It makes Senator Mandai's words during that fateful emergency session ring painfully true: "He’s been inefficient, slow to act, and allowed his own term to be dragged out without a new vote for far longer than any competent politician should have allowed! The war has dragged on because our Chancellor has done nothing to stop the powers that drive it, and it is the Jedi and the Clones that shoulder the weight of his incompetence!"

She has long since harboured worries regarding the usage of a Clone army, creating living and sentient beings simply for the sake of throwing them into war for a Republic they have never known... And this is just another layer of anxiety on top of that.

If Palpatine had been a better Chancellor... Would the war have ended already?

Or...

Perhaps the war never would have begun in the first place...

~~~~

The news are all over the Holonet as soon as the sentence is dropped. Some quite large fines, but no jail time.

The people seem conflicted, as many of them had been holding on to what they've been told throughout Palpatine's time in office: that he's a hard working man who's doing his very best for the Republic to even his own detriment at some times.

Some are weeping and in denial, claiming that it cannot be true.

Others are mounting protests, that the punishment is too little for someone who abused the highest political office in the entire Republic.

And Palpatine...

Palpatine is locking down all of his rage and disgust, down as deep inside himself as he can, lest he ends up killing multiple people in an explosion in the Force.

As satisfying as he would find it, he can hardly expose himself like that.

Regaining his reputation will be hard work, harder than he ever expected, but he cannot create more bodies to bury with no control. There are enough people that need to die without him adding random pathetic rabble to the list.

He'll take his time, things will blow over...

And when they do, he'll mount a charm offensive that will make everyone forget about these pesky little convictions. They're barely anything at all—though he's almost impressed that the investigation managed to pin them on him. Seems he might have underestimated the Jedi just a small amount.

It's not a mistake he will repeat.

And they will come to regret ever taking part in this farce in the first place.

Not that they would have been spared even if they hadn't put their noses where they don't belong.

Death to all Jedi...

Just as soon as he can formulate and enact a plan to enact Order 66. There must be some way...

As long as he can activate the chip in the mind of just one single commander, he can ensure that commander spreads it to the others and then the destruction of the Jedi will commence.

And the revenge of the Sith will finally be complete.

—

(Supreme Chancellor Obi-Wan Kenobi masterpost)

[tvpeongsstuff]

Supreme Emperor Obi-Wan Kenobi (part 7)

"Help you how?" Master Unduli no longer sounded suspicious. Instead her voice was bland and her face was serene. She was still projecting an aura of calm even with her stance unchanged and the lightsaber held firmly in her hands. Obi-Wan wondered if he could convince her to help. She had been through an ordeal and might value freedom over further duty.

Appo and Cody were standing near the bodies on the ground. Appo had stopped his almost single minded trek towards Vader and was looking at him. Appo was still upset though no longer crying. His jaw was clenched and his hands were in fists. Cody had turned towards Obi-Wan when he had first started speaking. His right hand was gripping Appo's neck. He looked . Bail just looked quizzical.

All of them were waiting on a response to the question. Obiwan knew he had to convince them and though it might have been best to take a few seconds to gather his thoughts and come up with the universe's most persuasive argument he couldn't wait. He had no time,

"We need to begin by dechipping every clone trooper. There are approximately 35000 troopers permanently stationed on Coruscant plus 6000 from Vader's 2 battalions. And, one million troopers that can be called to the planet within the hour. There are 7823 medidroids that can begin to immediately perform the surgery. In less than one day we can free almost half the clones serving the empire." He knew his numbers were a little off as he had not been giving the research his full attention while he was waiting on the outcome from the surgeries.

Obi-Wan started pacing. He focused on Cody. "Commander, we can do the surgeries in the senate halls. Force knows this building is big enough. We will have to start slow, so that we can deal with any emotional fall out when the troopers remember what they were forced to do when they were MINDCONTROLLED."

Obi-Wan had to pause to take a deep breath and try to calm down. He turned to Commander Appo, "We can begin with the troopers standing out in the middle chamber. We need to set up a command structure with a clear message -'You were not at fault.' And, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I will need as many people helping as possible. I wouldn't even think of asking otherwise, and, of course, they are free to say no, everyone is free to say no, but we need the skills of the troopers. We need to ask them if they will stay and work with us to undo all of the Sith's plans."

He couldn't tell what the commanders were thinking. Obi-Wan's heart was racing. He felt so mercenary. His mind was going a mile a minute. He knew he was panicking and he needed to stop. This was too important. Everyone in the room had to stay and help. The commanders would have to convince the other troopers to help. Bail would have to convince other senators, and rebels. He moved to where Bail was standing.

"Bail surely you must have some ideas of how we can undo all of the laws that allowed Sidious to take over, remove the corruption from the senate, judiciary system, and the military, free captured Jedi, remove all unjust laws, and grant autonomy to all empire slaves. You must have friends with ideas. We can bring the republic back. We can make the republic better."

"Would you really give up power?" Bail asked. He sounded sceptical.

"Of course I would! I do not want to rule. No Jedi wanted to take over the senate. That was one of Sidious' lies. Had I not needed the troopers to stop trying to kill me, I never would have taken over for Palpatine."

Obi-Wan was so scared that he wouldn't get through to them, to any one. He couldn't stop pacing. He felt like one of those toys the way his head kept turning, trying to look in their eyes. He felt like he was vibrating. "We have to start. I don't know how many failsafe's and boobytraps Sidious might have, or how we can organize to pull this off. We have to find other people we can trust. But we have a chance now! We can do it. I know we can. We have to trust in the force."

He did not go to Master Unduli. She was still radiating calm. He wanted to sink into it. His shields felt like they were in tatters. He'd raised them. He'd meant to raise them but sometime in the last couple of minutes they'd cracked. He hadn't been this open since the destruction of the Jedi and the fight with An..Vader. What was she getting from him?

Master Unduli lowered her arm and turned off the lightsaber. She did not release it but she did stand up straight. Her face was no longer serene. There was more warmth on her features.

"That will be... a lot of work." She noted.

"Yes," Obi-Wan replied. "And we only have about a week."

"Why?" Bail's confusion was understandable.

"I know I can keep Vader asleep for at least a week as I have done it before when, when, Anakin was a padawan and injured on a mission. I put him in a healing trance and helped him sleep. I do not know..I cannot imagine...We have to plan for the possibility that that may be as long as he can stay asleep. So, we have a week to fix everything."

"Trust in the force, Master Kenobi. We can figure it out." Master Unduli sounded confident.

"I can drum up help from some of the senators. There are a lot of laws that I've wanted to strike from the record for a while now. But," here Bail paused for a second thinking, "we cannot remove all of the emperor's powers from you, Obi-Wan. Not until after you've pushed through all our reforms. It will be too easy for Palpatine's supporters to vote against the best interest of the Republic. Sad to say but one person must continue to hold the ultimate paower until we fix this mess."

"Well if it has to be anybody, I'm glad that it's you." That declaration of faith from Commander Cody stole Obi-Wan's ability to talk. He felt like he had been struck dumb.

"We should begin removing the chips from the others. If we are ever going to be free we have to know what we should be fighting for. And, we have to know who to trust." Commander Appo turned again to look at Vader.

"Do not worry Commander Appo. We are going to dismantle this corrupt system and replace it with something better. This time no one will be able to stop us." Master Unduli sounded so sure.

"Does this mean that you are going to help me? All of you?" Obi-Wan clarified. There was no room for mistakes or misapprehensions.

They all nodded.

"I never thought we would ever have a chance at a bloodless coup. We would all be fools not to take what the force has given us." Bail said. "We need to strategize, come up with a plan of action and a timeline to complete it in. You say you can only hold Vader under for an hour. Maybe we can see if we can find something else, some drug that may work as well. Until then, we have a hard time limit. Luckily I am in a room with two of the best generals of the republic and two of the best commanders. We can do this!"

It was obvious why Bail Organa was a senator who could navigate the world of empire politics and being a rebel. He knew how and when to rally others.

Nothing had been resolved but Obi-Wan still breathed easier. They were going to do this.

[mightydragoon]

Suitless Vader and Luke Fic Recommendations

@silvereddaye Hey you asked for it. 

1. Sent Out for Safety - Chapter 1 - throwawayflames - Star W...

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22659655/chapters/54159751

At the age of eight, Luke Skywalker and his sister, Leia, are split up for their safety. Leia stays with their Uncle Ben, and their mother, to learn how to be a Jedi. Luke, on the other hand, is sent to the Organa's, where he will pretend to be their adoptive son who was orphaned. Ben had only given Luke one rule to live by while he was away from his family, don't tell anyone his last name, and he followed that.

It wasn't his fault that Darth Vader sensed that he was a Force Sensitive and now he wants to train him, as a Jedi no less. That's the complete opposite of what Ben had told Luke. And after asking Darth Vader about his dad, Luke can't help but say yes to Darth Vader training him. After all, Luke's always wanted to be a Jedi like his father.

 2. Another Empire -   Theace1

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14666787/chapters/33883572

Another Empire - Chapter 1 - Theace1 - Star Wars - All Med...

The Battle of Yavin had a surprising outcome with the death of Emperor Palpatine. Luke Skywalker's confrontation on Bespin has a much different outcome in the AU story, meeting someone he never expected to see: The Empress Vader.

3. Oceans Across- planningconquest

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15176468/chapters/35194499

Oceans Across - Chapter 1 - planningconquest - Star Wars -...

Star Wars on the high seas! Doesn't get more simple than that.

4. Burning Mother planningconquest

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11952459/chapters/27024234

Burning Mother - Chapter 1 - planningconquest - Star Wars ...

A Jedi Luke emerges onto the galactic scene over a decade after the Jedi temple burned. Joining with Cassian Andor, rebel spy, they attempt to return to the Rebellion to attempt to full fill his destiny as the Chosen One. Sidetracked by pirates, farmers, and blind monks. All the while hunted by a vengeful Lady Vader who would see the young Jedi dead with the rest of his Order.

5. Dynasty  Valerie_Vancollie

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13111908/chapters/29997507

Dynasty - Chapter 1 - Valerie_Vancollie - Star Wars - All ...

Hit in the leg by a stormtrooper's blaster bolt, Luke falls in the Death Star hanger bay and is unable to escape on the Falcon along with Han and Leia. During the subsequent interrogation, his true heritage is revealed and Vader instantly takes him to Coruscant, determined to reclaim the son the Jedi stole from him. But the glory of the Imperial capital belies its true nature, where politics and power are everything and anything is fair game in the never ending game to reach the top. Not lying, not betrayal, assassination, sabotage, blackmail, nor seduction. As he commences his Sith training, Luke must also learn the rules and etiquette of the Imperial Court if he is to survive as most of his enemies fight their battles with words and political maneuverings rather than military force. Yet, even as he struggles to gain his place within the Empire, Luke learns that his best friend has joined the Alliance...

6. Possibilities of If May Be Valerie_Vancollie

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12946578

Possibilities of If May Be - Valerie_Vancollie - Star Wars...

Co-authored by Selinthia Avenchesca.

What if two different Star Wars realities started to merge?

7. We are all in the gutterarcticapple

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7070698/chapters/16072126

We are all in the gutter - Chapter 1 - arcticapple - Star ...

Vader gets caught by the Rebellion and eight years old Luke gets tossed into the mix. Observe and discuss.

8. new cornerstone: a reconstruction mandalorianed ( Private) 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5308523

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5308523

When Luke had imagined finding out who his parents were, he had never imagined this.

9. Revenge Leads to Karma, and Karma Bites Darikiema

 https://archiveofourown.org/works/9055873/chapters/20601586

Darth Vader created them for his revenge; the clones of Obi-Wan Kenobi were his to torture and kill. But when something goes wrong and one of them isn't grown before being released from the pod, he's met with a dilemma that could change the face of the Galaxy.

Or:

Karma sucks and if Darth Vader ever meets her, he's going punch her in her damn face.

10. The Reckoning.  SpaceTrashCanFan (Sketchandcomicbookperson)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21597067/chapters/51495820

After Darth Vader goes missing after an failed attempt to assassinate the emperor, he was presumed to be dead.

Years later, a few Jedi and a child show up at the front door of the rebellion with an mysterious defector in tow. And they have big plans...

11. Bright Binary sunset in Dark Times SpaceTrashCanFan (Sketchandcomicbookperson)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19711126/chapters/46648030

A.k.a Vader got frozen in Carbonite, somehow.

-------

Since Vader went missing, years ago somewhere in the outer rim...when Leia was very young (5 years) . Leia Organa gets years later when she was seventeen a bodyguard assigned to her after an attempt on her. Normally, she would protest.

But this man is not like the others. Something that was eating him and her parents were keeping a secret. Wielding a weapon of a Jedi... Using the Force and having secret meetings with spies and her father..

Leia is determined to find out what is going on and discovers how her bodyguard is a reformed Sith-Lord who went missing several years ago.

12. Tumblr Prompts  KaelinaLovesLomaris

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9179176/chapters/20834479

A collection of unrelated Star Wars ficlets, from tumblr prompts. New "chapters" will be added as I get new prompts, and I'll update tags as I go too. Almost all of these revolve around Luke and Vader's father-son relationship, aside from the first few.

13. No Distance Far Enough KaelinaLovesLomaris

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17549516#main

Imperial Prince Luke Skywalker is kidnapped by the Rebellion. His father is not happy.

14. Those Who Walk The Paths Of The Sky (Must Learn To Fly) antebunny

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13771092/chapters/31651179

In which Leia is seven when her only friend Dijan dies. Her grief tears apart the shields Obi-Wan Kenobi put up on her mind to hide her adeptness with the Force, and is felt by two other residents in the galaxy: her father and her brother.

Or: The Skywalkers have a mental conversation from opposite sides of the galaxy because they're Skywalkers.

It also changes the course of the galaxy, but that's just to be expected.

EDIT: the second work is all part of this work!

15. Those Who Walk Series  antebunny

https://archiveofourown.org/series/1176827

Skywalker family fluff.

16. Those Who Walk The Paths Of The Sky (Must Learn To Fly) II --antebunny

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13779084/chapters/31673112

Sequel to Those Who Walk The Paths Of The Sky (Must Learn To Fly), because there are still a lot of things that need to happen. But they're Skywalkers, so it has to be dramatic as possible. Including old friends, Organa Family Drama, Skywalker Shenanigans, and Hutts. Also, don't mind Obi-Wan. He's busy moping.

EDIT: THIS IS NOW ALL PART OF THE FIRST WORK

17.  the shifting light of stars  freefan1412

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20904197/chapters/49692206

Obi-Wan never needed to ask Padme for Anakin's location. That has consequences.

18. Fulfilling a Prophecy KianRai_Delcam (orphan_account)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13466274/chapters/30871740

Qui-Gon's eyes are gentle when he replies, "Changing fate is not always best, Vader. Whatever happens is as the Force wills it to be." Vader scoffs, "I'm hardly a youngling to be lectured, Jedi. My knowledge of the Force is more complete than yours. You have not walked both sides of the Force as I have. The Force is neither an ally nor a slave, as the Jedi and Sith see it." After Darth Vader's death and Anakin's redemption on the second Death Star, both Luke Skywalker and Vader are more than surprised when they find themselves alive on Coruscant in the Jedi Temple. Of course, Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi are a bit perplexed as well. Follow the Chosen One and company as they journey across the galaxy once more, discovering their true selves and fulfilling a prophecy as it was meant to be. Fic takes place over a few years, and may possibly go into the Clone Wars. Not just another time travel fix-it AU. You have been warned.

19. Cloak And Dagger  dorenamryn

https://archiveofourown.org/series/613946

“...and those that endeavour to dissolve it [the Union of Great Britain], carry a dagger under the cloak of patriotism, to stab their country in the heart."

In which everything changes, but also nothing does. (aka: the one where Anakin Skywalker is a Jedi Knight pretending to be a Sith, Emperor Palpatine thinks he's won, Obi-Wan Kenobi thinks his best friend's betrayed him, and Leia Organa is stuck in the middle of it.)

20. The Good Temptation Sinclairchap

https://archiveofourown.org/works/4740410/chapters/10834520

The Force is out of Balance. Unfortunately, it's Chosen One has done little to fix this, and has even Turned to the Dark Side, furthering the Unbalance. The entities created directly by the Force, who guide those who use it, have decided he requires a nudge in the right direction. A rather large nudge.

But not everybody, or even the Chosen One himself, agrees with this plan.

(Previously titled "Path to Redemption")

21. Misguided Light Skylanian_Writer

:https://archiveofourown.org/works/4572396/chapters/10413042

Vader survived Mustafar unharmed, but believes everyone he holds dear is gone. Except his son, who he would do anything for, so long as Luke stayed by his father's side.

Padmé managed to survive childbirth, and lived to see everything she fought for be deystroyed. Except her daughter, who Padmé would die for in a heart beat.

Unfortunately, Luke and Leia are not willing to sit quietly as their parents fight a war. The twins actions shake the entire galaxy to its core.

The Force really hated the Skywalker family.

22. In the Past  SilverDaye

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16597682/chapters/38898149

It's been two months after Bespin, and Luke Skywalker is trying to come to terms with the events that happened there. During a dogfight with Darth Vader, both of their fighters crash. When they recover, they both find themselves on Coruscant at the end of the Clone Wars. Vader still aims to claim his son, but Luke has been taken to the Jedi Temple where he meets Anakin Skywalker.

23. Runaway SilverDaye

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14630196/chapters/33813027

Imperial Prince Luke runs away from home to escape his overprotective father Emperor Vader. Jumping from planet to planet he finds himself creditless on Tatooine. While working for more money to leave the planet, Luke meets an old man named Ben Kenobi. But Luke knows he can't stay in one place for long for surely his father is hunting him down.

24. The Bargain SilverDaye

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13722573/chapters/31525827

Vader has killed off his master and claimed the throne as Galactic Emperor. Padmé has become an outspoken figure head and leader of the Rebellion. Vader captures his wife. Now she must figure out a way to be free for not only herself, but her children as well. She's fighting against Vader, who will stop at nothing and use anything means necessary to bring his family together.

[jedimasterbailey]

Sneak Preview of Chapter 8 of “The Padawans”

Ahsoka overhears what Sidious intends to do with Barriss and needless to say, it doesn’t sit well with her.

Link to full fic below!

Darth Sidious disembarks his personal shuttle with his most trusted Imperial guards leading the way to Riyo Chuchi’s palace. The Fifth Brother and the Seventh Sister walk silently beside their Emperor, both perplexed as to why they were accompanying the Sith Lord. For they had both failed miserably at keeping Barriss Offee in their custody by allowing the Mirialan escape with Ahsoka Tano, another wanted Jedi. Their punishment was one neither would ever forget. They had been electrocuted by Sidious’s lightning repeatedly until their flesh began to burn. As a result, the Seventh Sister now relied on a vocabulator to speak, her vocal cords having been damaged beyond repair and the Fifth Brother wore more armor to cover the raw skin that has yet to heal. Failure was no longer an option for the duo if they valued their lives.

Just before they were greeted by the Pantoran Senatorial guard, Sidious addresses the Inquisitors with their next assignment in a low voice.

“There is a Jedi here. It appears Senator Chuchi has set a trap for me to spring. Find this Jedi and hold him or her for questioning while I deal with our host. There is a chance it could be the very one you fools have lost. Do not fail me again!”

“Yes, my Lord.” The Inquisitors simultaneously say before stepping aside.

The Seventh Sister then calls for one of her probe droids using a remote on her wrist. Within seconds, the requested droid flew out of the Emperor’s ship and perched itself on it’s mistress’s shoulders ready for orders.

“Search the area and see if you can pick up another lifeform that isn’t the Senator or her staff. Apparently she thinks she can hide a Jedi from us.” The Seventh Sister orders in her new distorted voice.

The probe droid immediately begins to work as it flew from the Inquisitor's shoulder the minute she uttered the word “Jedi”.

______________________________________________________________________

Sensing Palaptine’s presence getting closer to the palace, Ahsoka conceals her own Force signature and takes shelter in the palace’s ventilation system following Riyo’s footsteps underneath. Ahsoka could feel Riyo’s fear and anxiety building which worried her deeply. From what the Togruta has seen based on Imperial propaganda in the worlds she’s traveled to, Palpatine was certainly frightening and intimidating, but he was also portrayed to be the same noble leader as he was before the Empire. Was Riyo fearful for her life? Or was she just unsettled by the change of plans?

Ahsoka leaned on the latter knowing they had yet to discuss their plan on how to deal with the Emperor with the subject of Barriss having been a distraction. Despite knowing Riyo’s intention and motivation, Ahsoka was still set on persuading her friend to think of another solution. If there’s one thing Ahsoka was sure of, it was that taking a life, no matter what the reason was, was an act that could never be erased from one’s consciousness. Barriss’s words and facial expressions on the matter has proven that. She did not want that same fate for Riyo. There had to be another way.

Ahsoka’s breath hitched in her throat seeing Palpatine approach Riyo. The man was obviously a Sith Lord in the eyes of a Jedi, but to someone like Riyo, he was deformed old man with an unnatural eye color. Ahsoka concentrates hard on suppressing her hatred for the man for the sake of staying hidden. If Palpatine was able to orchestrate an entire galactic war without consequence, then Ahsoka knew better to underestimate his abilities on detecting the slightest change in the atmosphere.

Riyo, now properly dressed in formal attire, bows to Palpatine.

“Emperor Palpatine, it is an honor to have you in my home. Though you are here earlier than expected.”

Palpatine gives a false smile, “Yes, Senator. Your invitation admittedly piqued my interest and I could not wait to meet. It isn’t everyday I have an excuse to leave Coruscant.”

Riyo reciprocates the gesture.

“Then we should waste no time then. Allow me to show you to my office.”

Ahsoka quietly follows the crowd above, going as far as to hold one lightsaber in with one hand and the other with her teeth to prevent any noise. The situation was too delicate for there to be any mistakes. To her surprise, Ahsoka hears Palpatine dismiss his red cloaked guards outside the office, leaving him alone with Riyo.

“Please, make yourself comfortable.” Riyo says calmly, taking her usual seat, “I could have someone fetch us some refreshments if you’d like?”

“That would be lovely, my dear.” Palpatine accepts, sitting down.

After Riyo informs someone of her staff of the Emperor’s request, the secret Sith Lord immediately brings up the very subject he knew disturbed Pantoran.

“I take it that you are displeased with what has become of the Talz?”

“Forgive me your grace, but I must admit that their extermination was unnecessary. They were no harm to anyone and it’s because of their extinction that my people have become more fearful of the Empire. The increased number of Stromtroopers in our cities and towns enforcing curfews and inciting violence deeply concerns me as someone who is supposed to be protecting them. That’s why I wanted to negotiate as to how the Empire can improve its relations with Pantora.” Riyo says with the same amount of sophistication and grace as Padme once did in the Senate.

Feigning a look of confusion, Palpatine folds his hands, “I’m sorry my dear, but I must disagree with the notion that the presence of my Stormtroopers or the extinction of the Talz are of any harm to your people. The troopers are there to maintain the peace and order the Republic failed to accomplish.These men are instructed to detain any rebels who dare to disturb the peace. You know as well as I do that we as a galaxy are still recovering the Clone wars; we cannot run the risk of having individuals rise against the stability we have created. Don’t forget that it was Count Dooku, a political anarchist, who started all the fighting that the Jedi enabled. Surely you and your people have not forgotten what a dark time that was!”

Riyo shakes her head, “Of course not, your Excellency. I, like the late Senator Amidala, were one of the few who voted against the fighting.”

“Yes, I remember.” Palpatine sighs, now appearing to look mournful, “May she rest in peace, Amidala. I miss her immensely. I’d like to think that she would have been proud of the new order.”

From above, Ahsoka grimaces at Palpatine’s words as they couldn’t be further from the truth. Padme would undoubtedly be leading the Rebel alliance if she were still alive.

“That still does not explain why the Talz needed to be killed.” Riyo argues coolly.

A servant then entered the room with a tray of tea and assortment of Pantoran delicacies, temporarily stopping Palpatine from answering. It was only after the two gave their thanks and had the room back to themselves that the Emperor was able to give the answer both Ahsoka and Riyo knew to be a lie.

“I never ordered for the Talz to be terminated.” Palpatine says steadily maintaining direct eye contact with Riyo, “I only deployed a squadron of my people to set up a base on the moon given how suitable the environment would be for training purposes. My best guess is that the Talz attacked my troops and thus they were left with no other choice. I can understand how hard this all must be to hear knowing you were the one to establish peaceful relations. But you and I have no control as to how they respond to their new superiors. As I’ve said before, there is no room for hostility against the Empire.”

There was a moment of silence between the politicians allowing Ahsoka to digest Palpatine’s words. The answers to all of Riyo’s questions have been contradictory and infuriating. Anakin and Obi-wan had once told her that the Talz were welcoming and receptive to negotiation. A small part of Ahsoka wanted to hop back into her ship and destroy the “training camp” that was surely constructed over the bodies of the dead tribe. But Ahsoka knew better; Riyo was depending on her to not draw attention.

“That is...very unfortunate to hear.” Riyo professes sadly, bowing her head.

“Indeed.” Palpatine sighs before continuing, “Unfortunately, I’m afraid that is not all of the bad news I have to share.”

Raising her head back up Riyo asks, “What is it?”

“There is a Jedi here.” Palpatine confesses, causing Ahsoka’s heart to leap into her throat.

Riyo’s eyes widen, “A Jedi? But how? I thought they were all dead?”

“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!” Ahsoka screams internally to herself, taking her lightsaber hilt out of her mouth in order to suppress the sound of her now heavy breathing. She was at a loss as to how Palpatine could know this despite having hid her ship and temporarily cutting her connection off from the Force. Ahsoka then reminded herself of something she knew to be true about the ways of the Sith; their order was rooted in deception.

“Maybe this is just an excuse for him to watch Riyo.”

The possibility brought some comfort for Ahsoka, but now any future communication with Riyo would be next to impossible between Palpatine and the Inquisitors he most likely brought with him.

“If only that were true, but alas there are still many survivors out there not to mention all the younglings that are born with such powers. But not to worry, I have two of my Jedi hunters here looking for him or her. Rest assured, I will not be leaving until the Jedi has been brought to justice. I wouldn’t feel comfortable returning to Coruscant knowing a dangerous traitor roams free on your planet. Despite what you may think of me Senator Chuchi, I really do keep your best interest at heart.” Palpatine affirms with another smile.

Even from a distance, Ahsoka could clearly see how uncomfortable Riyo looked, “Do you have an idea on who it may be?”

“To be perfectly honest with you Senator, I am not sure. However, there is an individual I am hoping to find here.” Palpatine admits causing Riyo to lean forward on her desk.

“And who would that be?”

“Barriss Offee.” Palpatine answers ensuing a fresh wave of panic to arise inside Ahsoka.

With a pained expression on her face, Riyo asks, “You mean the girl who bombed the Jedi Temple and escaped prison?”

“Precisely.”

“Why her specifically?”

To Ahsoka’s horror, Palpatine laughs, “Well aren't you a curious girl! Unless you’re aware of Ms. Offee’s whereabouts and are hiding her from me?”

Riyo rapidly shakes her head, “Of course not! Barriss is just an interesting choice given what she has done. It would make more sense for someone like her to hide in some remote world far from the Core worlds. A Mirialan would be very easy to spot on Pantora!”

Palaptine raises a hand, “Ms. Offee is not to be underestimated Senator Chuchi. I know Barriss to be an incredibly powerful and intelligent warrior. We both may not agree with her crimes, but her speech on the Republic and the Jedi’s involvement in the war rung with truth. She saw the future we were all blind to and for that, I’m hoping I could extend a peace offering to her. Her skills would actually become a great asset to the Empire.”

“The Jedi failed her and pushed her to do what she did, but I know I could help her. I could give her the love and attention she was denied. Perhaps she could succeed me in becoming Empress one day.”

Ahsoka bared her fangs as her blood began to boil at what Palpatine’s intentions were for Barriss. Everything Bail had told her after the events of the trail now made sense. Palpatine was hoping Barriss’s anger would fester into a hatred he could manipulate between denying Master Luminara’s visitation rights and removing the death penalty. The idea of Barriss becoming a Sith apprentice nauseated Ahsoka to the point where she was afraid she would vomit in the vent.

Not wanting to hear another word, Ahsoka knew she needed to get out and run far away from the palace. She needed to unleash her anger and her sadness before it got the better of her and made itself known to the Sith Lord. Ahsoka quickly grabs her lightsabers and navigates her way to Riyo’s bedroom where she knew she could escape without being seen.

The journey proved itself to be a challenge for Ahsoka as her emotions were quickly turning into hysteria. Her heart was hammering against her chest so hard that she felt she couldn’t breathe. Tears also began to stream down her cheeks, blurring her vision. Ahsoka had not felt this kind of visceral reaction since her days of hiding on Thabeska after the events of Order 66.

Back then, Ahsoka understood fully why the phenomena would happen; she knew she was stressed about Anakin's whereabouts and she knew she was grieving the fact that she had to fight and bury the 501st alone, with Rex being the only survivor. Now, Ahsoka wasn’t entirely sure why she was reacting this way.

Knowing about Palpatine’s insidious plan for Barriss was upsetting, but was there something more to it, and the only way to find that out was to be as far away from Palpatine as possible.

Ahsoka was beginning to see stars when at last she saw her way out. She quickly punches the vent open and hops out of the opening, gasping for air. Taking a few steps back, Ahsoka then sprints out of the room and leaps over the balcony, dropping several meters down to the ground below. Upon landing, Ahsoka proceeds to run away from the palace and out into the open marshes, completely unaware of the probe droid that had spotted her and was now alerting its master.

[dettiot]

Fic: late-night interruption 5/?

late-night interruption Author: dettiot Rating: G (for now) Summary: When Obi-Wan receives a late-night comm from Sabé, he’s not sure what to expect. But what he learns will change many lives . . . and the fate of the Republic.

Also available on AO3!

XXX

There was a disturbance in the Force. 

Most beings would stand in the office of the Supreme Chancellor and, if their attention was not held by being in the presence of the most powerful man in the galaxy, be entirely focused on the view through the transparisteel windows. No matter the hour, traffic surged around Coruscant’s buildings, moving its two trillion citizens to workplaces or home or recreation sites. 

But for Darth Sidious, Coruscant was only a drop of water in the ocean when it came to his interests. In truth, the entirety of the known galaxy was simply where he would start--but with the vast unexplored regions, there were so many beings, unaffiliated with the Republic yet, that he would bring under his control one day.

That would be his glorious future. Whenever he considered it, the Force swirled in a dark, soothing mass around him. In the present moment, however, he could sense something changing. Something that felt wrong.  

Reaching out, Sidious focused on the change. It seemed to be coalesced around certain people, and his lips twisted into a snarl as he realized just who the Force was working upon.  

Senator Padmé Amidala. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. And most troubling of all: Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. 

If it was simply the matter of Amidala’s brat being born soon, he would understand this stirring. Anakin’s offspring would be powerful in the Force. And when his child came without its father being present, Anakin would blame the Jedi Order. It would be another wedge between his future apprentice and the Jedi High Council.  

But it wasn’t just the “happy couple” at the center of the Force’s gyrations. What did the Force care about Kenobi in this moment? 

Before he could begin to explore the disturbance further, his comm chimed and he had to take a moment to smooth his face into something suitable for Chancellor Palpatine. 

He wasn’t sure how much longer he could bear to keep up the pretense. To wait for his destiny. Especially with the Force’s newfound movement, being more active than it had been in decades. It was practically dancing.  

Tapping his finger on the button, he accepted the comm and growled, “Yes?” 

“Good evening, Chancellor,” Mas Amedda said, his voice dripping with deferential courtesy. “There is action in the Senate on another clone rights bill--”

“Another bill which will go nowhere,” Sidious ordered. “There are no clone rights.”

Amedda bowed, but his sense hummed with a subtle resentment. “I am attempting to do as you wish, Chancellor, however, I have received word that the Kaminoans supporting this latest bill.”

“They have no Senate seat,” he sniffed. “Clearly, this is a ploy, in preparation for our upcoming negotiations.” 

“Yes, Chancellor,” Amedda said. 

The lack of initiative in Amedda was becoming more and more of a problem. But on the other hand, his loyalty was unquestioning. Any servant’s gifts came with tradeoffs, Sidious acknowledged to himself. 

“I will speak to the Kaminoans. Keep the Senate in line and kill the very idea of clone rights,” Sidious said.

Amedda inclined his head. “Yes, Chancellor. Have a good evening.” 

Without any further words, Sidious ended the comm and looked out at the view once again. He reached for the Force but found his insight was . . . blocked. All he could feel was a disgusting light. He grimaced and turned back to his desk. 

These infernal petty problems--clone rights, war strategy, the Senate’s bickering--soon, none of them would matter. Soon, the galaxy would answer to him. 

And so would the Force. 

XXX

Although most of Naboo’s population wasn’t overtly religious, Sabé had been brought up in a family that was less spiritual than most. She had always focused on the here and now, on her own actions, instead of thinking about what came after death. And she had been satisfied with her life and what she would accomplish before she died, without the assistance of any gods or goddesses. 

Yet she had begun to reconsider her perspective. Because seeing her best friend in such pain made her wish she could call upon a deity for help. 

“Don’t push, Senator,” Gahan urged her as Sabé held her hand. “Not quite yet.” 

Padmé nodded, her teeth gritted. The contraction passed and she slumped back on the bed, breathing hard. 

Sabé lifted a damp cloth and sponged Padmé’s forehead. “You’re doing so well, Padmé,” she soothed her. “Just a little longer.” 

Nodding a little, Padmé closed her eyes. “Where’s Anakin? Is he here yet?” 

“Soon--he’ll get here soon,” Sabé promised. “Master Kenobi messaged me when they entered orbit around Coruscant.” 

“Master Kenobi?” Padmé said, blinking. “Obi-Wan is coming?” 

With a shrug of her shoulders, Sabé said, “Yes?” 

Padmé still looked confused, but then she smiled weakly. “That’s--that’s good. I’m glad. Anakin--Anakin is scared for me--he’ll need Obi-Wan.” 

Anakin wasn’t the only one who was scared, Sabé thought. She glanced at Healer Gahan, who remained as calm and steady as a pond. But it seemed to her that the healer’s calm was very practiced. Like she was pretending for Padmé’s sake. 

“Sabé . . . could I please have some juice?” 

Before Sabé could reply, the healer said smoothly, “I’m afraid that’s not wise, Senator. But you may have some ice chips.” 

“I’ll get them for you, Padmé,” Sabé said, giving her forehead another quick wipe before heading to the kitchen. 

The healer followed her, which was fine with Sabé. As soon as they were out of earshot, she whirled around and pinned the Mon Cal with her glare. “What’s wrong with Padmé?” 

“Nothing more than she is in labor,” Gahan said, her large, glassy eyes blinking. “The Senator is a small woman; she will need to be fully dilated to deliver safely. There is also her anxiety about her husband being here. That is unfortunately increasing her pain, too. I’m sure as soon as her husband arrives, the Senator will have an easier time of it.” 

Sabé breathed out, feeling her shoulders slump. “I’m sorry.” 

“You are a good friend to the Senator,” the healer said politely. “I have one more scan to run on the Senator--I do find the Senator’s condition concerning, but I believe with this final scan, we will be well-prepared for the delivery.” 

“All right,” Sabé said. “I’ll get the ice chips for Padmé. Thank you, Healer Gahan.” 

“You’re welcome,” the healer said with a nod of her head before returning to Padmé’s room. 

Something still seemed not quite right to Sabé, but then, she had never been part of something like this before. She didn’t have older sisters and Padmé was the first of her friends to become pregnant. And she never had any thought of having children herself. 

All of this was as new to her as it was to Padmé. And Padmé needed her right now. 

That meant she shouldn’t stand around worrying. She should get those ice chips and get back to Padmé. 

With a shake of her head, Sabé did what was needed. With a large glass brimming with ice, she walked back into the bedroom, just in time to hear Padmé say, in a loud voice, “What?!?”

“What is it, Padmé?” Sabé asked, stepping over towards her. 

Padmé looked up at Sabé, her eyes wide and dark and, for the first time ever, full of fear for her life. 

XXX

He knew what he should be focusing on. The idea that the Chancellor was a Sith Lord . . . it was horrifying, terrifying. Not just for what it could mean for the galaxy, but because how could the Jedi not realize this? How had Palpatine hidden his power, to the extent that he read as a non-Force-sensitive? 

Yet all Obi-Wan could think about was Satine. 

The Satine in the meditation he had shared with Anakin . . . he had never seen her like that. Her hair loose around her face, but shorter than he had ever seen it. Her face was as beautiful as ever, but there were new lines around her eyes, hinting at age--or pain. And her jumpsuit, dirty and faded, was a far cry from her regal gowns. Not even during their year on the run had she allowed herself to look so bedraggled.

It all pointed towards a Force vision, a glimpse into the future. But . . . how could it be true? How could Satine be alive? 

Meditation usually calmed him, gave him answers to the questions he sought. But this time, all he had were questions. And given the current situation, it would be up to him to find the answers.

Obi-Wan glanced over at Anakin, who was gripping the speeder controls so hard, his knuckles were white. 

Yes, definitely up to him. 

Not that he could fault Anakin for his distraction. Not with his worries for Padmé. And Anakin could never focus on anything else if someone he cared about was in trouble. It was a quality which had provoked Obi-Wan to exasperation at times--but also to gratitude, since otherwise, he might not be alive. 

Obi-Wan took a breath and sought for Padmé’s presence amid the trillions of souls on the surface of Coruscant. Once he found her, he winced at the pain radiating off her. But the strength underneath that pain gave him hope. 

Looking over at Anakin, Obi-Wan spoke in a raised tone, to be heard over the wind whipping past the speeder’s canopy. “Padmé seems to be handling her pain well.” 

If anything, his attempt at reassurance backfired, because Anakin sped up. “She shouldn’t ever be in pain,” he said, his jaw tight. 

“Some pain is unavoidable, Anakin--you know this,” Obi-Wan said, trying to keep his voice gentle. 

He shook his head, his distress plain to see. Obi-Wan reached out and rested a hand on his shoulder. 

“I know I should be worrying about what we saw,” Anakin said slowly, his eyes focused on the view through the windshield. “About the Chancellor . . . and about Satine. But all I can think about is Padmé. About my dreams.” 

“I understand, Anakin, I do,” Obi-Wan said. “But I saw Padmé holding a baby in our vision. We both saw that. It seems the Force itself says her future is not what you saw in your dreams.”

“Then what do my dreams mean? They felt so real, Obi-Wan . . .” 

Anakin’s voice sounded miserable. He was flying without his usual smooth fluidity, jerking the steering column to get around obstacles in their path. 

“Crashing the speeder won’t help Padmé or solve the question of what will happen,” Obi-Wan said crisply. “And Padmé is going to need you to be calm and supportive.” 

His former Padawan gave him a look dripping with frustration, but at least he slowed the speeder and took a few deep breaths. Obi-Wan sent him a gentle swell of peace and hope, which helped reduce a little of the fear in Anakin’s presence. Enough that his face smoothed and his thoughts seemed to untangle. 

“I’m sorry,” Anakin said after a moment.

“I know,” Obi-Wan said. 

Glancing at Anakin, Obi-Wan found himself thinking. No matter how much Obi-Wan had taught him to avoid attachment, Anakin seemed completely unable to do so. And it troubled Obi-Wan, seeing Anakin be so fearful of loss. Not simply because of the danger of giving in to that fear . . . but also, how did such a reaction impact the people that Anakin cared about? 

Over the years, Obi-Wan had observed Anakin being wildly overprotective of Padmé, even though she was very capable of defending herself. What if, at some point in the future, Anakin’s worry came into conflict with Padmé’s sense of independence? How would Anakin handle that--and how would Padmé?

It made him think of that year with Satine. How Qui-Gon had taught him to respect Satine’s autonomy. To not take over tasks simply because he was a Jedi--to let her learn so she could help herself. 

“If we give someone a fish, they eat today,” Master Qui-Gon would tell him. “But if we teach someone to fish, they will eat every day for the rest of their lives.” 

That approach always seemed to be successful, even though it conflicted with his sense of personal responsibility. When had he stopped believing in teaching people and begun taking over? Was it the war--the lives he felt responsible for? Or was it a flaw within himself?

Perhaps he had failed Anakin, by simply taking a black-and-white approach to attachment, instead of teaching him all the shades of gray that came from having relationships. And perhaps Anakin had taken the wrong message from his stance on avoiding attachments. 

Given what he knew about Obi-Wan’s own feelings for Satine . . . it was quite likely Anakin saw him as a hypocrite. Which would explain why Anakin had never told Obi-Wan about his marriage.

It was something to consider going forward, Obi-Wan acknowledged. Something he would want to talk to Anakin about, after the baby had arrived and Anakin saw that Padmé would be all right. 

The Jedi had always believed that Padawan and Master learned from each other. Somewhere along the way, though, he had stopped learning, and it had cost both of them. But at least now that he could see his failings, he could work to correct them. He could help Anakin. 

The speeder coming to a stop snapped Obi-Wan out of his thoughts and he looked around. Anakin had docked the speeder at the private landing platform by Padmé’s apartment, but . . . he wasn’t moving. 

“Anakin?” Obi-Wan asked. “We’re here.” 

“I--I know,” he said, his hands clasped together tightly in his lap. 

This was odd. Obi-Wan frowned and gently touched Anakin’s shoulder. Under his fingertips, Anakin’s muscles felt like rocks. 

His Force presence reminded Obi-Wan of a bantha on the verge of stampeding. Terrified, uncertain, wanting to move yet wanting to stay still . . . 

He opened his mouth to prod Anakin, to remind him of Padmé, only to stop and shake his head. Of course Anakin didn’t need a reminder of Padmé in this moment. 

“I promise you, Anakin, Padmé is not going to die.” 

“You--you can’t--you can’t promise that, Master,” Anakin said, his voice hitching. 

“Yes, I can,” Obi-Wan said, his voice equal parts gentle and firm. “Because Padmé is strong and loves you very much. And I’m sure she loves your child just as much. She is not about to leave you both behind.” 

Anakin’s blue eyes were full of tears when he looked at Obi-Wan. “You--you think so?” 

Obi-Wan smiled, putting all his reassurance and confidence into his voice and his presence. “I know so. Now, come along. I wouldn’t want to tell Padmé that I had to drag you to her side.” 

“Ohhhh, I’d be in so much trouble,” Anakin said. He sprang to his feet and somersaulted over Obi-Wan’s head, landing lightly and taking off for the entrance to the apartment from the landing platform.

With only a pause to chuckle, Obi-Wan hurried after Anakin, following him to what must be Padmé’s bedroom--to their bedroom. 

The moment he stepped into the room, Obi-Wan felt like he was intruding. Anakin paused on his way to Padmé only to give Obi-Wan a look that told him not to leave. And then Anakin was kneeling on the bed and taking Padmé’s hand, smiling at her. 

“Hi, angel,” he said softly, his voice filled with so much love. It made Obi-Wan swallow as he realized just how much Anakin loved Padmé. 

“Ani,” she breathed out, looking up at him. The Senator’s face was flushed, her hair sticking to her temples from the sweat trickling down her forehead. “Ani, you’re here.” 

There was something strange in Padmé’s presence, Obi-Wan thought. A trace of fear, a few flickers of uncertainty, just underneath a wave of joy.

“Of course I am,” he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. 

“Mr. Naberrie, I presume,” the Mon Cal healer said from the foot of the bed, where she was doing something between Padmé’s spread and bent legs. 

Obi-Wan quickly looked away, catching Anakin’s wide-eyed, pleased smile. Anakin didn’t correct the healer when he spoke. “Yes--how is she doing?” 

“Very well, other than a little surprise,” the healer said in an unruffled voice. 

Sabé, holding Padmé’s other hand, snorted and Anakin frowned. 

“A surprise?” he asked, looking over at Obi-Wan with a worried expression before looking back at Padmé.

Padmé nodded and gripped Anakin’s hand, a wide smile lighting up her tired face. “Oh, Ani--it’s twins!”

End, Chapter 5

[astudyinimagination]

I know other people have done this take before, and I’m not sure why my head decided that I should do my version of this take now? But also I think it’s never a bad time for it.

This take comes in two parts which basically say the same thing, but I think it’s really important to have the two parts, so here it goes:

Anakin Skywalker did not eff over the galaxy

and

Palpatine never needed Anakin Skywalker; he only wanted him

After everything that Anakin/Vader did, he didn’t eff over the galaxy? ...well, not quite. Yes, he could have attempted to kill Palpatine, although it’s uncertain that he could have succeeded. But that aside, let’s look at what he did do:

Disarm (literally, sorry) Mace Windu, allowing Palpatine to kill him (Palpatine proceeds to prove that he was anything but weakened in that moment and more than capable of killing Mace on his own.

Lead the clone trooper assault on the Jedi Temple. Now look, I’m not at all downplaying the horror of what happened there. Of what Anakin did. At the same time, it is a literal “women and children” scenario. The clones are skilled enough to slaughter the teachers and children on their own, and even if they hadn’t been, Palpatine could have corrupted any Force user with decent combat skills to lead this assault. Having someone with as much battlefield prowess as Anakin is sheer, horrendous overkill.

Slaughter the Separatist leadership. Dooku is already dead (by Anakin’s own hand, and Palpatine could probably have done that himself if necessary), as is Grievous, via Obi-Wan. Only the noncombatant leadership of the Confederacy of Independent Systems is left, and Palpatine could just as easily have sent a clone trooper unit in to “clean up the mess.”

More or less cause Padmé’s death. Despite the fact that, again, just about anybody could probably have actually killed poor Padmé, it’s worth noting that it’s a big deal that she does die, right at the start of the Empire. But again, anybody could have killed her, and Palpatine, I think, probably wants her to die as soon as possible. She is at the forefront of the Delegation of 2,000, and she is making herself too much of a liability.

Destroy himself. Anakin could have been a very powerful weapon against Palpatine, but not only does he join him, he also spiritually and physically ruins himself. This one is totally on him. Only Anakin Skywalker could destroy Anakin Skywalker (and at the same time, only Anakin Skywalker can make the choice to come back; even Luke can’t choose that for him).

Directly murder, and directly change countless lives. There is no way to tally the damage Anakin does to people around the galaxy. We can’t measure it. He murders Force only knows how many people, and he changes/ruins even more lives as a result. It’s worth noting, however, that Anakin needs nothing more than basic Dark Sider skills to wreak havoc and instill fear. The Inquisitorius exists purely to hunt down and eradicate Jedi—he isn’t necessary even for that task, at least until the Inquisitors fail. Palpatine doesn’t even need a face of terror for his Empire, although it’s certainly handy—and yet, even Tarkin proves just in one movie that he can handle that show more or less on his own. When presented to him, Leia immediately knows that Tarkin is a bigger threat than Vader, and indeed, it’s Tarkin’s idea to destroy a habited Core World.

Basically, just about everything that Anakin does to help Palpatine, from killing Dooku to acting as the Emperor’s iron fist, Palpatine could have done himself or found someone else to do. Palpatine sets his plans in motion long before he knows of Anakin’s existence (Naboo is blockaded and invaded first, and this is Palpatine’s easy ticket to the highest seat of political power in the galaxy.) In no way is Anakin Skywalker actually necessary for Palpatine’s takeover of the galaxy.

So why does Palpatine corrupt him and use him?

Because Anakin Skywalker is the most powerful Force sensitive ever.

Palpatine has one hell of a god complex. You pretty much have to to take over an entire galaxy.

And what self-described god could resist the opportunity to enslave someone so powerful?

“We will be watching your career with great interest.” No kidding. Anakin has no second human parent; he is literally half the Force itself. Can you imagine what that would feel like to someone attuned to the Force? Anakin must have felt like the binary suns themselves, hot and blazingly brilliant.

Anakin, by virtue of what he is, is more powerful than Palpatine could ever hope to be. Manipulating him and ensnaring him until he was almost too far under his power to think straight must have been an incredible high.

You are manipulating the most powerful Force user ever into your control.

He has no idea that you are doing that.

He will never dare to consider the possibility that he can overpower you.

You are stealing the Jedi Order’s own Chosen One away from them.

(It’s worth noting that even though Anakin does twice entertain the notion of overthrowing Palpatine, it is only, so far as the films go, with his family at his side: first his wife and then his son. Further worth noting is that, having been rejected by Luke once, Anakin does not entertain the idea again. When he delivers his son to the Emperor, it is to deliver Luke as a slave, with no hope of overthrowing his Master this time.)

And so Palpatine keeps Darth Vader alive, and chained, simply because he can. He has no need of the Chosen One; he never did. But to have turned Anakin against the Jedi, use him against them, and keep him on his knees before his Master, a shell of his former self?

Of course he does.

So when Palpatine blasts Mace Windu to death with renewed Force lightning, and screams that he has absolute power, it’s not just that he’s about to declare himself Emperor of the galaxy and people will cheer. It’s that Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One, is standing on a tipping point, and he decides, and tips to the Dark. Thirteen years of emotional manipulation come to their climax.

Anakin Skywalker is his.

“Absolute power,” indeed.

[legobiwan]

Just watched a Dooku tribute (as I do with my free time) on yt that ends with the "Obi-wan Kenobi..." from Box episode. I lol'ed way harder than I'm used to -as in I crumbled over my desk- and it's entirely because of you + your fics. Since I'm msging, I love reading your metas on sw and have an ask: 're you sure that m.Lom skewered is enough demo in itself of further darksidery by Dooku as it ressembles the killing of the 2 Hondo's pirates? Added death of pykes?Sry for strange style chrtr limit

That sounds like a fantastic use of your free time, my friend. A++. I can only say I am very happy, in this case, to have enabled your amusement :D

So, my feeling about Dooku skewering Minister Lom - well, first of all, I’m never sure of anything, hahahaha, and certainly one instance of Dooku killing someone isn’t necessarily proof of anything, but let’s take this in context, because I just love talking about Dooku.

When Dooku offs the two pirates (three! actually, as he choked the other one to death) - he waits until Obi-wan (and Anakin, although I sincerely doubt Anakin is a mitigating factor here) is gone before he starts seriously maiming people. Now, I have a running theory that the binders Hondo used were somewhat (not totally) Force constricting (it’s really the only way he could have kept the three of them in line), but still. There was ample opportunity for Dooku to go hog wild on Hondo’s gang even with those parameters in place so it makes me think that he wasn’t so far down the Dark at that point. Plus, he just kind of...seems more frustrated here than anything?

I mean, yeah, it’s murder, obviously, but he really looks like he had been waiting (and waiting patiently) to do so. Which is telling. 

Now, before we compare to Minister Lom, let’s take some other situations into account. Remember that between this sequence and the Pykes, Dooku was forced to essentially kill Ventress. Now, yes Sith training, no emotions, blah blah blah, but I contend he was seriously bothered by the fact he had to do this and he argued with Sidious about it, although gave in, in the end. (Another step down - he actively sacrifices a student to his ambitions and I high-key believe that Dooku is super-dedicated to teaching, whether it be with Jedi or Sith parameters - remember Rael getting on his case in Jedi Lost about being directionless after Qui-gon flew the coop.) And then after this, we witness further devolution - torturing Anakin via Magnadroids in the Calamari episodes in Season 4. Cavorting with slavers in the Zygerrian arc (where he doesn’t order the execution of Obi-wan until later, first wanting him captured. Also, he doesn’t get personally involved in that, using secondaries instead.) And then, of course, there’s the Hardeen arc, where he and Moralo Eval construct the worst American Gladiator set in the history of the galaxy, in that if you fall into the water, you die. Yikes. 

But then. We get to the Pykes. I can’t emphasize how much I feel “The Lost One” is a wholly underrated episode as it gives us so much in such a short amount of time. But Dooku kills Silman in front of Obi-wan and Anakin. Dooku then engages in the duel of the century with them (which is not an indicator of his darkness, I just want to point it out because it is an AMAZING sequence that I will one day break down because there is a. lot. going on there). And then he skewers Minister Lom. Not before telling Obi-wan that he had been truthful on Geonosis, and that Obes should have joined him. 

He’s not lying. 

But still, he then kills Lom. And the thing is, he really looks like he’s enjoying it. Check it out.

And I think it’s the fact that he just brutally murders Lom in front of Obi-wan, that he has this ridiculous look of glee both during and after - 

And yeah, okay. Dooku is a Sith, he kills people, he’s kind of an asshole, I get it. But - I still believe that he started out with this idea that he could control it, that he could direct his own destiny, until it was too late.

Plus - let’s face it. Dooku is smart. Politically savvy and he has the experience to back it up. The fact that he essentially allowed himself to be so taken with the Dark Side’s power that he didn’t totally foresee Palpatine tossing him aside for Anakin? The only way I can justify that is because he was so enmeshed in the Dark that he was unable to look past himself and his own desires and ambitions. I feel like a TCW Season 2 Dooku might have seen it coming. By the time we get to RotS, he’s been stripped of anything that still held any meaning for him (and that includes Kenobi, as in the novelization, Dooku was still angling for Kenobi in place of Skywalker. That, however, might have given Dooku a bit too much confidence which was exactly what Palpatine didn’t want.) It’s...a really dark, empty, depressing outcome for a man so intelligent, so talented, and so devoted to his students, light or dark. 

[daisyachain]

Bringing back my Wrong Jedi theory that the Jedi Council was playing the long game, but Palpatine was playing a longer one.

Canon circumstances:

Palpatine has been spreading rumours/propaganda painting the Jedi as a dangerously powerful group operating independently from the Republic

His sway was such that in Revenge of the Sith, the Jedi were essentially forced to make Anakin a Master of the Council rather than risk offending Palpatine and looking suspicious

Barriss Offee had been recently knighted and taken out of the Master-Apprentice support system

Palpatine (and Dooku) show throughout TCW that they’re quite willing and able to manipulate people/events tangential to the main story just to give himself a small advantage.

See: pitting Dooku against Asajj, killing Savage and capturing Maul, possibly arranging the Rako Hardeen thing

The Jedi were essentially forced into military leadership, since they were specifically manipulated into firing the first shot and were ordered by the Republic to fill in. If they refused, they would be seen as a powerful and dangerous group deliberately disobeying the Republic in wartime.

Canon guides refer to them as “brevetted” generals and commanders, which refers to a symbolic rank. 

This implies that while the Jedi have tactical/strategic command over military matters, they have no real power within the Republic military and can be overruled at any time by “real” military officials

This interpretation is supported by canon: Tarkin almost blows the Citadel mission by trying to order around the Jedi, and when push comes to shove the clones obey the Republic over the Jedi (Wrong Jedi/Order 66 arc) unless they’re personally loyal

Popular opinion was that the Jedi were the ones driving the war, not the Republic

See: the temple bomber’s widow

Palpatine probably made sure that the Pong Krell affair got a lot of press, further casting doubt on the Jedi’s position

Summary: the Jedi were in a difficult political position at the start of the Wrong Jedi arc where they were losing a war forced on to them, they had no real military or political power, and any political deviation from the Republic stance would have been read as treason. Barriss Offee was newly-knighted and on her own, and Palpatine is manipulating left and right.

Theory: 

The Jedi Council willingly gave Ahsoka over to the Republic military court, but did not think she would be found guilty or face more punishment than a few weeks in prison. They did so because:

Withholding Ahsoka, a Jedi accused of treason, terrorism, and murder, would look like protecting a traitor. Given the suspicion and censure the Jedi already faced, keeping Ahsoka might result in the whole Order facing restrictions and regulation across the galaxy. This is especially true if Pong Krell’s arrest had been publicized. Given the state of the war, any withdrawal of Jedi would result in massive collateral damage.

The Republic still (nominally) operated under Innocent-Until-Proven-Guilty at the time, and all evidence against Ahsoka was circumstantial. The expected outcome from handing Ahsoka over was short-term detention while evidence was found and presented by both sides. There would have been plenty of evidence available to support Ahsoka’s story, so the Council probably figured that Ahsoka would be safe in prison while the case dragged on, and would be eventually released.

The Council’s plan was to put Ahsoka in Republic custody to allay suspicion, then get her off legally due to the total lack of good evidence against her

This didn’t work out because Palpatine had arrange the whole thing by manipulating Barriss, newly alone and a healer disillusioned with the cost of war. He chose Barriss due to her isolation and her relationship with Ahsoka, and he targeted Ahsoka due to her connection to Anakin. Knowing the Council didn’t really have a choice, Palpatine knew the gambit would either turn Anakin against the Council for their treatment of Ahsoka (if the Council handed her over), or would get rid of Ahsoka entirely (if she escaped/was killed by Republic military forces).

Palpatine specifically assigned Tarkin to the trial because he had a grudge against Ahsoka, and had the military waive usual proceedings to ensure a swift guilty verdict and sentence of execution. The entire thing was not just set up to convict Ahsoka, but to trick the Council into sending her to slaughter.

+ bonus theory: Barriss was planning on breaking Ahsoka out of prison, though whether or not Palpatine was in on this, I’m not sure.

Summary: the Council handed over Ahsoka as a political move because they were certain she would get off.

Further evidence:

Some Jedi on the Council at the time were: Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon, Shaak Ti, Mace Windu, and Kit Fisto. Of these:

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Plo Koon would have vouched for Ahsoka

Shaak Ti, who was more than willing to believe Fives in the Order 66 arc, may well have believed Ahsoka

Mace Windu was extremely sympathetic to and supportive of Ahsoka in the first half of the arc, and voice deep suspicion of the Republic and especially of Palpatine, so he is likely to have smelled a rat

Kit Fisto is a generally wise and easy-going personality, so it’s hard to imagine him taking a hard line against Ahsoka with so little evidence

Yoda worked several missions with Ahsoka and would have trained her as a child, and he’s had an apprentice go bad before, so he would have known she wouldn’t turn

That’s 6 Jedi out of 12 who have definite characterization that puts them on Ahsoka’s side. The Council is shown to be about consensus rather than majority decisions, so at least a few of Ahsoka’s likely supporters would have had to be argued into handing her over. Given the nature of the Jedi, it is likely that even more Jedi supported her. So: on balance of probability, a good portion of the Jedi Council would have had to be argued into handing Ahsoka over as a strategic move entirely independent of her guilt/innocence. The one reason that masters like Windu, Ti, and Fisto would agree to it is if Ahsoka would be protected in the short term in Republic custody.

Palpatine clearly hated it when Anakin got close to good influences (he tries to mess with his relationship with Padme, he drives a wedge between him and Obi-Wan), so Ahsoka’s connection to Anakin would have been too big a risk for him to take.

[starlady38]

Trying to marshal my thoughts about The Siege of Mandalore Part 1. Spoilers under the cut. 

This entire season has cemented Ahsoka as the protagonist of the show in a way--inasmuch as her arc encapsulates everything that happens in it. And I was really fascinated by the parallels between events in this episode and events in her final S5 arc. 

What parallels specifically? Almec specifically calls her “the wrong Jedi” (the title of 5x20) immediately before the tunnel sequence that directly recalls her evading pursuit by Anakin and the clones in 5x18. The callback is pointing out that this is another “great trial” for her, in the words of one of the councilors (Ki-Adi-Mundi?). In the last one, she both passed the test and failed it--she stayed strong, but she let her emotions cloud her judgement, even at the most critical moment, in Obi-Wan’s phrase. If she does the same thing during her duel with Maul, she will die. If she succeeds, she will be a Jedi Knight--the Bendu refers to her as a former Jedi Knight in Rebels, and she will have done the exact same thing that Obi-Wan did to attain Knighthood. 

I have never seen Obi-Wan more tired. You can really tell how exhausted he is in how long it takes him to come up with comebacks to Anakin’s quips. And that’s before Ahsoka shows up and unfairly accuses him of “playing politics.” (The irony being that Obi-Wan has never liked the Chancellor and has said repeatedly that he hates politics. He’s very justified in telling her that her accusations are unfair, and in a weird way it seems like a sign of maturity that Ahsoka says she isn’t trying to be.) But he and Ahsoka are both right in their own ways--there are no more right choices, the dark side clouds everything, and both these alternatives are actually traps set by (former) Sith Lords! Playing politics did cost the Jedi everything in the end. The people did lose faith in them. They did have an obligation to the government of the Republic and the people of Coruscant. Aiding Mandalore (which the Council never made a decision on one way or the other!) would have started another war. We know that it’s way too late to do anything about any of those things now; both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka must have thought that they’d have time to rehash these discussions again. (If he thought she was going to die he would have said a very different farewell. I also think that some of what Ahsoka is doing here is displacing her beefs with the Order and/or with Anakin onto Obi-Wan, or rehashing her anger at his part in her expulsion as a Council member.) I’m sure both of them regretted the way they parted, afterwards--especially since they both must have concluded the other was dead.

Speaking of final partings…it’s heartbreaking that Ahsoka and Anakin were never able to continue this conversation, and that Ahsoka kept shutting down Anakin’s attempts to talk about everything that happened. Her reasons for doing so make total sense; it’s obvious that being back with her old friends, her family, is very painful for her, and she’s not wrong to say that there isn’t time to spare even before Sidious makes his move with the attack on Coruscant. And I don’t doubt that her rebuffing Anakin’s overtures contributes to his feeling that only Padmé and Palpatine care about his emotions, about him, in ROTS. (We know this isn’t true; Obi-Wan made a pretty direct overture to talking about him and Padmé in 7x02. But Anakin rebuffed him, and we have plenty of evidence for his worldview being warped by his subjective judgments--it happens again in this episode when he tells Obi-Wan that “everything happens for a reason and so did Ahsoka leaving” is the only way to look at the situation.) This is why Vader still wants to rehash Ahsoka’s actions at the end of S5 seventeen years later on Malachor.

I think the perceptibly slightly manic edge to a lot of Anakin’s lines after Ahsoka returns is also an important piece of context for his actions in ROTS. Ahsoka doesn’t want to talk about it! She and Obi-Wan had a fight! Time to pretend that everything is fine! (Narrator: Everything was not fine. Maul is a powerful Sith Lord and Anakin would understandably have been worried about Ahsoka in the back of his mind, even if he does have complete faith that she’ll prevail.) He’s already destabilized but trying to hide it when Padmé drops her bombshell, which unsettles him further, and Sidious immediately preys on that. (Also note that as of a few hours after these scenes Anakin now has two instances in which he killed enemies in a non-Jedi way, Tranch and Dooku. Clearly nobody gave Tranch a second thought but every time Dooku gets mentioned it reminds Anakin of how he’s not the Jedi he should be, which feeds into his sense that the rest of the Jedi know that and find him unworthy.) The rest was not inevitable. (Order 66 was, though the timing was not set in stone.) But it was increasingly overdetermined.

[pastillafraize]

Let’s Write Cody’s Redemption Arc

It’s been, what, two months since Season 7 of the Clone Wars came out? It showed more of the details of Order 66 from the clones’ perspective, showed Rex and some other clones getting their chips removed, how Ahsoka and the defected clones reacted to the Order now that no one was being mind-controlled. However, other Clones that were more than just red-shirt clones, Cody most prominently, were still subject to Order 66. Thus, “Cody stans” (of which I thought I was the only one but I suppose not) were heartbroken all over again when Cody didn’t hesitate to give the order to blast his general off a cliff after having fought alongside him for years prior. So I’ve been thinking about how exactly Cody would react if he were faced with the reality that he was being used by Palpatine both during the Republic as well as the Empire. I decided to explore exactly how that would work if not only for myself, then for the .002% of the Star Wars fandom whomst happen to care about Cody and his relationships. I’ve outlined a point-by-point timeline, detailing exactly how I feel this might play out, starting from the point of defection.

The reason that Cody couldn’t canonly separate from the Empire is in part because it would be pretty gratuitous to have yet another well known clone have his inhibitor chip removed so that he is no longer affected by Order 66. On the other hand, that would give a lot of freedom to write an actual redemption arc from the perspective of a clone that has to actively question his place as a trooper under the Empire and even the Republic to an extent. This way he can exercise agency rather than just having the chip (or lack thereof) do it for him.

I believe that it would be too easy for Cody to ultimately become a rebel--he’d have to be prematurely killed off before it even got to that point. This would continue with the pattern of Cody and Rex being foils to each other. Where Rex defects immediately and we don’t really get to see the process of his questioning his role during the Clone Wars, Cody’s journey can be shown in greater detail without it having a satisfying or even definitive conclusion. (I’m saying his ending shouldn’t be open-ended, he should just straight up die.) If it were left ambiguous whether or not he developed a rebel’s ideology, he never joined the rebels anyway so it ruins the illusion.

For the actual meat of the story and the aforementioned process of defection, Cody would need to go from a top rung (relatively) under the Empire to the bottom. It could mirror the fall of the jedi, specifically Obi-Wan’s fall from grace as a well-respected jedi master to an old hermit living in hiding in the middle of a sandy desert. Likewise, Cody was the first and only clone Commander for years of his life and respected by most clones and jedi alike. Then Order 66 comes and he tries to murder one of his closest companions. He then continues to show his unquestioning loyalty to the blatantly evil Empire and is of the highest rank in the new stormtrooper army.

However, he was not well respected by those under his command the same way that he was during the Republic. He grew to be a bit of a racist once the Empire started enlisting (or kidnapping and grooming) humanoids that were not clones to serve in the stormtrooper army, believing that they were inferior and abusing and overworking them when they didn’t meet his unrealistic expectations. He also lost a lot of his aforementioned friends and didn’t make any new ones due to his abusive behavior. He presumably lived the rest of his life, bitterly serving the Empire, so that’s one way that his quality of life declined. However, he was still pretty high up on the Empire’s social ladder so a real fall from grace would be what actually kicks off his redemption arc.

Somehow he’d have to first cut ties with the Empire, and the only way that would make any sense would be to be forcibly cut from his high-ranking position so that he is suddenly a nobody out on the streets. But as someone who served as a commanding officer longer than anyone else, that would require Darth Vader to somehow no longer have a use for him or maybe even look upon him with malice and see him as detrimental to his power. It’s possible since those under Cody eventually garnered an extremely negative opinion on him, they might band together to sabotage his position by convincing Vader that he is secretly planning a rebellion of his own. If that were the case, Vader would obviously have him executed, forcing him to escape with nothing but his life, cutting him off from the Empire and his title forever. This would diminish his status and place him on the lowest rung of society under the Empire. It would force him into hiding from any of his former cohorts, superiors, and subordinates. It would turn him into a street rat, resigned to one of the farthest corners of the galaxy where the Empire would never find out of his mortality status.

Only at this point when Cody has nothing left to lose and is probably rummaging through dumpsters to get by would he finally have the chance to stop and contemplate the Empire’s oppression and conquest alongside his own role in all of it. After being forced into hiding from the Empire, he’s an open target. He was already a war hero under the Republic and only grew more brutal and discriminatory under the Empire, causing his name to be more feared among the common folk should he ever be recognized by one of them, let alone the way that clones as a whole must be feared during the Empire’s reign. If he is exposed and vulnerable, he could have been targeted on the street once people realize he is a clone. His health would definitely be on the decline after being detached from the Empire.

(x) (x)

At this point it would be good to for once introduce a completely original character in this story arc that is based in nothing other than pure fanservice. They could be another human being, but they don’t have to be. If I had my pick, I’d steal from Alan Dean Foster’s Episode IX pitch and use (what I believe are called) Alesians whomst may or may not have tentacles for limbs. At this time, the focus would have to be taken away from Cody and put into focusing on the world building and characterization of this new character whomst I will dub as “Ynox” because that’s a valid space-sounding name, I’m sure. Could Ynox parallel Cody in some way? Maybe she’s a Zuko type where she comes from a rich family who held some less-than-flattering ideals (they were Separatists) and now she has some defecting of her own on her hero’s journey. For some reason along with the tentacles, I would imagine the Alesians to also possess limbs and abs buff enough to rival those of a wookie, the only difference being the sheer visibility of the contours on each tentacle from their rippling muscles due to their sleek skin and lack of furry overcoats.

Anyways, Ynox is going to be Cody’s lancer and they’ll traverse the galaxy together for a little while until Cody is inevitably fridged for her benefit. Probably she’ll find him in some alleyway getting beat for being a clone. Seeing this helpless stranger, she fights off these non-force-sensitive goons, using her sheer muscle to disarm them of any weapons. She chases them off and gets Cody to safety and somewhere where he can get medical attention and not receive any further mistreatment. Ynox could be a character with a certain set of morals. She and her family were Separatists in part because they hate the Jedi Order and what they stand for. From their perspective, jedi intervene in societies and situations that are not their business and wield lethal weapons as well as eagerness to use them that are thinly veiled beneath the flowery language of being diplomatic monks. Because of that, Ynox may be wary of any clones by association, although she does not know about Cody’s own legacy. Although she may dislike clones as a knee-jerk reaction, Cody hasn’t given her any reasons not to help him.

The shared character motivational part is where I draw a blank. I want these two characters to start travelling together, all the while realizing that the things that they used to believe are relics of an old, flawed system. But they need immediate needs to get from Point A to Point B if the overarching plot is to be accomplished. Otherwise it’s just characters going through the motions with no personal investment. There is a want vs. need dichotomy that still needs figuring out because of this. One of the wants they need to want is to find anyone that Cody knew that fought for the Republic. Obviously the first person he will always have on his mind will be Rex, but since Rex has wiped himself off the map as well, they probably both assume each other dead. The only one that still has political power would be Senator Organa. They’d look for him first since he’s the only one that’s not in hiding.

Something that I’ve neglected to note but happens earlier on in the narrative is that not only does Cody get ungraciously excommunicated from the Empire, but he also gets a concussion in the process. This is what knocks out of him the hatred of all non-clones as troopers as well as his immediate and unexplained desire to murder all jedi. And as Cody continues on his travels to find people connected to his past, a lot of his past memories will come to light as well. Maybe he remembers Kenobi and how close they grew when they fought alongside each other with the 212th Battalion. Does he regret killing him? It doesn’t matter either way because just like all his other old friends, he believes he is now dead... until someone tips him and Ynox off that Kenobi may still be alive! This could spur him on to try and find where he is. On the way they have wacky adventures and Cody’s relationships from the Clone Wars as well as the entirety of Ynox’s backstory (turns out Organa is attuned to the fact that her family were notorious Separatists) are fleshed out. Some of the adventures will matter to the overarching plot with recurring both original and preexisting characters while some will be pure filler. I’m thinking it could have a sort of Orange is the New Black or Handmaid’s Tale setup where a present conflict is being shown with an interwoven flashback subplot, and they are thematically linked somehow.

They’ll try to hide Cody if they believe that him being recognized as a clone will put them in any sort of danger. They meetup with Organa eventually and try to negotiate with him. Ynox is already on tense terms with him, having been on the other side of the political spectrum. They try to hide Cody from him since he would definitely recognize him for who he is. Maybe Cody gets found out and they are forced to make a daring escape and move on to the next planet for more leads on anyone else’s whereabouts. Their tracking of Kenobi could finally pay off when it leads them to Tatooine. However little do they know they’ve been tracked the entire time by a bounty hunter sent by Vader. They’d been attacked by them multiple times but never realized they were the same person who’d had it out for them to begin with. But none of that matters once they get to Tatooine and let their guard down.

It may have been easy to find the planet on which Obi-Wan now lives, but it’s much harder to find his exact location when the planet is covered in nothing but sand for miles and all the houses that are spread a ranch’s worth apart from one another look exactly the same. At this point, Cody must make peace with the fact that he may never find the closure or meaning that he’s been looking for and that he can’t be chasing his own tail, trying to find Obi-Wan or anyone else when that endeavor could be entirely fruitless. He decides he’ll stop and make a life for himself separate from both the Republic and the Empire. And just as he decides that the assassin strikes. Cody is killed before he can find Obi-Wan, before Obi-Wan strolls into town just a few hours later and meets Ynox. Neither of them recognize each other and neither of them know each other’s relationship to Cody.

What a long stream of consciousness! It was far more specific than I initially intended it to be but because some things were more specific, it raised more questions with rather vague or nonexistent answers. Maybe this is less of a redemption arc and more or a complete mess. However I hope it might get anyone who stuck around to read it thinking about what types of character arcs defected clones might go through. Season 7 of the Clone Wars gave us a little more insight to Rex’s character development, but I wanted to see more of a de-radicalization process. Perhaps this whole thing should have been about Rex instead. But people seemed so upset over Cody’s betrayal (even though at this point it’s the only direction that makes sense), so I thought that it couldn’t hurt to fantasize.

[meantforinfinitesadness]

Fic Recs

At 25, Obi-Wan Kenobi met Breha Organa, and fell in love.At 34, Obi-Wan Kenobi met Bail Organa, and fell in love again.That’s right. It’s here. Not in any particular order and not categorized at all because again. I’m bored. This is mostly for me. Yes, the summaries are all from the official summaries on ao3, so no. They aren’t mine.

Battle of Wills by BigFatBumblebee  Mid-way through the Clone Wars their beloved General is a bit of a mess. But Cody, Kix and the rest of the 212th are going to look after him, even if it kills them. Can snarkiness actually kill? Cody hopes not or they don’t stand a chance. 

Promise You’ll Be Safe by brahe  An edited ending of The Clone Wars episode "Landing at Point Rain."

Fought For Him by AndyHood  Anakin thinks that the only reason why Obi-Wan took him as a Padawan was because of a promise made to Qui-Gon. But little does he know of the sacrifices that Obi-Wan went through to keep him. Of his participation of an ancient Jedi tradition where Master and Knights fight for a right to train a Padawan. Overhearing the conversation, Yoda decides to set his Great-Great-Great Padawan straight of what exactly went on during his apprenticeship.

Armored Oasis by Spectersticks  The enigmatic clan of Kajain'sa'Nikto known as the "Sand Wraiths of Florrum" attacks the Jedi outpost on the desert planet without warning. Several nights of bombardment later, the Council sends Obi-Wan Kenobi with Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano to uncover the reason behind these consistent attacks, while defending the outpost from the Nikto clan's ranged assaults. Ahsoka teams up with local Twi'lek allies from Florrum's northern capital to gather information, while Anakin and Obi-Wan stand by at the outpost to prevent further damage. The Sand Wraiths, however, don't let things go quite as smoothly as planned.

Family Gatherings by PunsBulletsAndPointyThings  Opening the door, Obi-Wan realized immediately, was absolutely a mistake. If he hadn’t, he could have gone about his day in peaceful bliss, could have gone back to bed, and remained blessedly unaware of…whatever…this…was…

And Yet, I Love You Still by PunsBulletsAndPointyThings At 25, Obi-Wan Kenobi met Breha Organa, and fell in love.At 34, Obi-Wan Kenobi met Bail Organa, and fell in love again.

Happily Ever After (Seems so Fitting For) by ilovedyoubananakin  Rex is on a simple mission with Obi-Wan Kenobi. The one problem? There's only one bed!

The Fallout of Anakin Skywalker’s Knighting by anecdotalist  Anakin is Knighted and decides to give his Padawan braid to Padmé instead of to Obi-Wan after his Knighting. Then he learns that there's a lot more meaning to that Tradition than he had realized but is it too late to fix things with Obi-Wan?

The One He Wanted by I_Gave_You_Fair_Warning Over ten years ago, Qui-Gon Jinn died.Now he's back, and Anakin's not sure how to feel about it.

Alternate: The One He Wanted by I_Gave_You_Fair_Warning  The One He Wanted went one direction. This takes place directly after first chapter of that story, and continues in a completely different direction. 

 Help You, We Will by BigFatBumblebee  Mace, Yoda and Plo step in when their young friend needs a bit of looking after.

The Maverick by obaewankenope (rexthranduil) On February 23rd, 2015 Obi-Wan Kenobi met Qui-Gon Jinn. Desire, want, need, and necessity unfortunately do not correspond to each other and Obi-Wan's life is turned upside down when his past comes back to haunt him. Forced to confront things he had long-since buried, Obi-Wan may lose everything he holds dear because of a mistake he made six years ago. Qui-Gon Jinn has to decide if he is willing to walk down a path that will risk his very life for the sake of love.This was only meant to be a happy coffee shop au, instead it turned into an accidental crime thriller. Apologies.

The Past Remains by otherhawk  The war drags on leaving trauma and destruction in its wake. After a bereaved Master is accused of harming his padawan, Obi-Wan is sent to talk to her, dredging up memories of his own past. 

You Shall Go To The Ball Kenobi by euromagpie Shock rippled through the Council – Yoda’s eyes briefly widened from their normal half-lidded state before he composed himself again. There was an almost imperceptible tightening of his hands on his stick. Mace could do nothing but sigh in his head; he had warned the elderly Master, he had told him and what he expected had come to pass. Indeed, experience seemed the greatest bracer when it came to Qui-Gon.Or: Qui-Gon Did That in episode 1 and although the aftermath has been done to death, I am an angst whore so i will also throw myself at this topic - enjoy!

The Cantina Debacle by ren (renegadewriter) And suddenly, as the room came back into focus… Cody was hit with a wave of unadulterated fury.How dare he?!When the 212th is on leave, Jedi High General Obi-Wan Kenobi has an... unfortunate encounter. Clone Commander Cody has some choice words to say and the clones as a whole are pissed.

Sole Survivor by I_Gave_You_Fair_Warning  Because the soles of your feet are extremely vulnerable to pain. Also, Obi-Wan is beautiful when in torment. Also, Anakin angst. Also, Obi-Wan powering through unspeakable pain. That's all the "why" I need.

Offset by Deviant_Accumulation  While on his mission to discover the mastermind behind the assassination attempts on Senator Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi is captured on Geonosis by Separatist Leader and former Jedi Master Dooku. As old and new secrets come to light, the Jedi Knight struggles to discern the truths from the lies. Political and personal motivations clash and blur together; all the while the galaxy is balancing on the precipice of war, and coming closer to falling with every passing second.

Sorry by samurai_hearts  A quick oneshot/warm-up. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka are captured and Anakin is, well, late.

Supreme Chancellor Obi-Wan Kenobi by stonefreeak By an old Republic law, all members of the Jedi High Council are senators in the Galactic Senate, and can thus be voted in as chancellor. A Senator from a less prominent planet has had enough of Chancellor Palpatine's incompetence and calls for a Vote of No-Confidence and the installation of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi as Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.This one action becomes the catalyst that changes the direction of the galaxy.or “Obi-Wan’s Life Gets Worse (Though It’s Not As Bad As It Could’ve Been)”.

Force Wound by Annehiggins  Why did Obi-Wan run from those droids? A notion to explain some of the plot holes I see in the movie. And, of course, I fixed the ending because I don't do Death Stories. Even when they're canon.

All We Can Do by deantookmybiscuits  Anakin has always considered his master rather unflappable. Obi-Wan Kenobi can take anything with a smile and carefully crafted clapback. Right now, though, he seems pretty flapped.

[dalekofchaos]

Villains better suited for The Rise Of Skywalker instead of Palpatine

The problem with Palpatine’s return is it undermines the entire story of the  Prequel and Original Trilogies. Palpatine outliving Anakin, Obi-Wan, Padme, Han Luke and Leia is the ultimate desecration of Star Wars. “it was always the plan to bring Palpatine back” and that is the problem. The mere thought of bringing back Palpatine back undermines Anakin’s sacrifice and redemption. It also undermines the story of The First Order, instead of bothering to make Snoke the big bad or focusing on Kylo Ren as an absolute tyrant as Supreme Leader, they choose to instead go backwards, thus giving a giant fuck you to all 3 trilogies. So here are how I think the villain of Episode IX should have been handled.

Rae Sloane. Rae Sloane founded The First Order! Sloane was loyal to the Empire, so much so, rather than allowing it to cease to exist, she recruited other loyalists and they fled to the Unknown Territories beyond Jakku. She founded the First Order. Together with Hux, she could usurp control of the First Order and become Supreme Leader, which would start a civil war, those loyal to Sloane and those loyal to Kylo. We can have someone who could be a great antagonist to Leia. The founder of The First Order and the mother of the Resistance. What makes Rae a compelling character is the fact that she believes what the Empire is doing is right. In her eyes, the Empire is doing the right thing, purging lawlessness from a galaxy overrun by bureaucrats that care little for the common people. She’s wrong, but like great villains before her, audiences can see where she’s coming from even if they don’t agree with it. Throughout her many appearances in the supplemental Star Wars narratives, she is constantly pushing for the Empire to be “just.” When things start to fall apart after the Battle of Endor, Rae struggles to keep the remnants of the fleet playing by the unspoken rules of warfare and is frustrated to see the Empire careen into backstabbing and incompetence. You can see Rae’s influence in the First Order with its strict hierarchy and minute by-the-books stringency that makes Palpatine’s Empire look positively laissez-faire by comparison. Supreme Leader Rae Sloane would make The First Order a force to be reckoned with and what better way to end it than with the First Order’s founder?

The Grysk. The Grysks were introduced in the new canon novel Thrawn:Alliances. They are what brings Thrawn to the Empire in hopes of co-existing to fight this threat in the Unknown Regions. Grysks are a species living somewhere in the Unknown Regions. Creatures half of myth, whom few have ever seen. It is said that they are nomads, with no fixed home, traveling in spacecraft so numerous they blot out the stars. They are said to be terrifying warriors, overwhelming their opponents by sheer numbers and ferocity. The fact that these intergalactic conquerors are not the main threat in the Sequel Trilogy is baffling. You could've had Ben Solo sense they were coming during his Jedi days and made the ultimate sacrifice to become Kylo Ren and join The First Order because he knew the New Republic was not ready to face such a threat. It wouldn’t make what he was doing the entire trilogy right, but it would make explaiin why he turned and what his motivations are.

Supreme Leader Snoke. Killing off Snoke was a mistake, everyone knows that, so why not reveal he survived. Even Andy Serkis believes he should've lived and why waste such a talented actor? The perfect way to end the saga is to bring Snoke back. I know just how Snoke could have been brought back. The Darth Momin comics could've been the way to bring him back. Darth Momin kept his spirit within his helmet, so who's to say Snoke could not have done the same with his ring? Snoke's ring is from the catacombs of Vader's castle. It was made of gold and was enscribed with glyphs from the Four Sages of Dwartii. Ancient force users and Palpatine had the statues. When Snoke was cut with the lightsaber, everything but his hand with his ring fell off the thrown. It just sits there, untouched. And when Kylo puts the ring on, he becomes possessed by Snoke. It was all apart of the plan to transfer his soul into Kylo Ren, a younger and more powerful vessel.  Or even better, reveal Snoke as Darth Plagueis. It makes sense and ties the three trilogies together. Darth Plagueis was a powerful Sith Lord who could influence the midichlorians to create life and also save others from dying. He taught everything he knew to his apprentice, Sheev Palpatine (aka Darth Sidious), but he eventually lost his power and young Palpatine killed him in his sleep. How could Plagueis not foresee his own demise at the hands of his ambitious apprentice? Why did Plagueis suddenly “lose his power”? The truth is, he didn’t lose his power and he knew Sheev planned to kill him. It was part of the plan. By dying, I believe Darth Plagueis was able to transmit himself into Sheev and assume control of his body, almost like an infectious disease. Ever notice his name? Darth Plagueis. Plague, as in an infectious disease. Darth Plagueis unlocked the secret to immortality by moving from one body to the next, continuing his lifespan through multiple hosts over countless years. Ever wonder why Palpatine was so obsessed with training a powerful young apprentice? Surely he knew that one day the apprentice would want to overthrow him, so why train his own murderer? In Return of the Jedi, Emperor Palpatine continually provokes Luke to strike him down. Why would Palpatine want to be killed if the goal is longevity? Because Emperor Palpatine was assumed by Darth Plagueis and, through his death, he would then be able to transmit himself into a new host body. He wasn’t just looking for an apprentice, he was looking for a new body since Palpatine’s body was growing old. Luke Skywalker was meant to be the next host body for Darth Plagueis. But unfortunately for Plagueis, Darth Vader had a change of heart and defeated the Emperor. Snoke was Plagueis. It’s the only way to make things work. StarWars.com describes Snoke as a seeker of arcane and ancient lore, and the Last Jedi Visual Dictionary shows that he is a collector of rare memorabilia. At some point, Snoke must have found the wreckage of the Death Star on the forest moon Endor, and was infected by Darth Plagueis when he came upon the corpse of Palpatine. Did you ever wonder why Snoke thought it was so important to complete Kylo Ren’s training? It’s because Snoke was Darth Plagueis and he was training his next host body. Plagueis didn’t have a choice but to infect a really old political influencer like Snoke. Kylo was being groomed to become the next host body. Remember the infamous(ly terrible) scene in The Last Jedi where Snoke is “predicting” how Kylo Ren will kill Rey? Wasn’t it a little too obvious? Wouldn’t Snoke have been able to foresee Kylo’s treachery? See through his conflict? It’s because he wasn’t predicting Rey’s death, he predicted his own. He knew Kylo would kill him. He deliberately bullied and provoked Kylo in order to stir his anger into hatred to further fuel his dark side and lead him to completing his training.  So let's say Kylo puts on his ring for his official coronation as Supreme Leader and Plagueis take's full possession of Kylo Ren, Plagueis had an apprentice who has fully cemented himself into the dark side and now a new and more powerful body. Darth Plagueis has everything he needs to way waste to the Resistance and the final destruction of the Jedi.

Kylo Ren and the Knights Of Ren. This entire trilogy has been building up Kylo Ren as the villain and the Knights Of Ren have been built in mystique ever since. Kylo Ren has fully embraced the dark side and The First Order, his story is not of redemption, but condemnation. We need to see his motivations. Show us why he chose The First Order and why he chose to rule it as The Supreme Leader after killing Snoke. Show us his tyranny as the Supreme Leader. We need to see that the Knights Of Ren being completely loyal to Kylo Ren. We need to see them as the only survivors of Luke’s Academy. Show us companionship between Kylo and his knights. We need to see them as being Kylo’s personal army and trump card. Unlike The Praetorian Guards who were faceless Guards who all just die. Let the Knights Of Ren be people and only unmask in the presence of their Supreme Leader and show them as Kylo's only true family in his eyes. We know that the purpose of The Knights Of Ren will destroy The Resistance and finally destroy The Last Jedi. Show us what reasons Kylo has that he thinks he can justify what he’s doing. And show us that Kylo Ren is wrong. Show us that Kylo believes that he’s right, but that his belief doesn’t justify what he’s doing, the people he’s hurt, the lives he’s destroyed, the damage that he thinks will be justified if they can only get what he really wants. Show us that Kylo Ren is wrong, show that his fall will be hard and that he has to suffer with the consequences of his actions.

The climax of the movie should be at Vader's Castle on Mustafar. The new Jedi have risen, The Skywalkers. Rey, Finn, Poe, Rose and Jannah have become the Skywalkers and will face Kylo and the Knights Of Ren. It ends in Kylo's defeat and Rey severs his connection to the force and live the rest of his days out imprisoned for war crimes against the galaxy.

[diwatang-sirena]

Food For Thought: Is it possible that Daenerys' storyline is going to go a similar route to Darth Vader's?

Now before you guys protest, especially the die-hard Dany stans, just hear me out on this. I’m a fan of both Vader and Dany, and as much as I wish that Dany will not turn into an antagonist, let’s not discount the possibility and try to look at her story in a different perspective. Okay? Then keep reading.

If you’re not familiar with Vader’s story in Star Wars (but how tho??), protagonist Anakin Skywalker started out as a poor, innocent slave boy who happened to have a very strong connection with the force. He’s even assumed to be the “Chosen One” from the prophecies that would balance the Dark and the Light sides of the Force. So he ends up training to become a Jedi with the hopes of freeing his slave mother whom he left behind in Tattooine, his home planet.

Eventually Anakin grows up to be a good but slightly arrogant teenager who is manipulated further by Emperor Palpatine (who’s posing as a good guy in the Senate). And because he’s fully aware of his natural talent, he’s even pushed further by the fact that the Jedi Council does not fully acknowledge his merits when he deserves them. One of the key moments in his transition is when he finds his mother murdered, which led him to his first act of madness when he massacred the tribe that stole her away.

But the final straw was when he dreamt that his secret wife, Padme, might possibly die through childbirth. This made him seek even more power to save his wife and unborn child, of which he was unable to do with his mother, and it eventually blinded him from seeing the good that his comrades and loved ones were trying to do to help him. 

At this point, he concluded that by being the most powerful, most fearsome Jedi on earth, he can prevent every terrible fate that could happen to the ones he loved. So he helped the Emperor massacre the whole Jedi Council, including the innocent children, in order to be stronger using the dark side of the Force. And you know the rest, his wife died in childbirth, indirectly because of his actions, and thinking that his mentor and brotherly figure Obi-Wan betrayed him and left him to die, he eventually became reborn as Darth Vader, now completely overwhelmed by hatred. 

And it’s not until the last minute when Luke, his son with Padme, helped bring him back to the Light when Vader chose to protect his son with his life instead of letting Palpatine kill him, ultimately fulfilling his prophecy as the Chosen One.

See the pattern here? Daenerys seems to be following quite a similar path, with her initially being a poor, helpless girl with a very tough upbringing who eventually gained power to protect the common folk. Not only that, but she also has something to do with the “Azor Ahai” Prophecy about the “Prince/Princess that was Promised”, although whether or not this means her, Jon, or their future child is yet to be seen.

Unfortunately, just like Anakin, Daenerys has been shown to have lingered in between the light and dark at times, such as burning her enemies or using fear to bend people to her will when her patience runs out. Of course I won’t deny that some of these actions are considered necessary considering that some of her enemies don’t do well with peace pacts or respectful discussions, most especially when they go through lengths to disrespect her as a woman.

But as much as I love Dany, I can’t deny that some of her actions, regardless of where she came from and how she came to be, are not doing her any favors with the Westerosi. Like Anakin, she has been slowly losing sight of what has been her main goal in the beginning of her pursuit; to save the people who suffered like she did and to find a place to truly call home. Now most of her focus is gaining her right to the Iron Throne, while slowly losing bits of emotion here and there especially when betrayal hits her at one front to another.

That is, until dear honorable Jon Snow came along.

Just like how Anakin and Padme’s forbidden love story ended up changing the Jedi forever, Jon and Dany’s love story seems to be a must in breaking the wheel of the current world, not just in politics, but the fate of the world itself. After all, Melisandre has prophesied that both of them have a very important role to play in the Azor Ahai prophecy in stopping the Night King.

Whether you ship them or not, you can’t deny that these two were bound to have a special connection thanks to their parallel journeys and their secret Targaryen relation. It’s interesting to note that in the beginning, all that Jon ever wanted was to become acknowledged as a Stark, arrogantly thinking that he had it worse than everyone else. Now that he’s constantly given all these burdens and high positions, he’s become more humble and doesn’t enjoy being the leader that people turn to.

Dany, on the other hand, was a meek and afraid little girl, having no idea in the beginning that she was capable of becoming more, no thanks to Viserys’ abuse. But as time went by, she began to grow as her own person and became more and more powerful, which unfortunately led her to become quite arrogant at times. 

While Jon’s been shown to have a harder time killing more and more people out of duty, especially when he began to realize that not everything is in black and white, Dany has been shown to be having an easier time disposing people who defy her, even the ones who used to be on her side. It’s not to say she hasn’t tried doing things the gentler way, but a lot of if not all the peace talks she’s attempted with her adversaries have never really gone smoothly. Not to mention, most of the people she had placed her trust in in the beginning have either betrayed or left her at some point.

To be fair, we can’t have two exact copies of “Jon Snow” in the GOT world. That wouldn’t make much of an interesting story now can it?

With that said, it seems possible that Jon’s role in GOT is quite similar to Luke’s trope as the reluctant hero of the story, the one who saves the whole world by saving their loved one from being completely immersed into the Dark Side.

Of course, we haven’t seen Dany turn completely mad just yet, and I personally hope it would never happen. But the first two episodes of Season 8 has compelled me to imagine the uncomfortable possibility of what it would be like if Daenerys does end up becoming a villain. Her thirst for the crown has been focused on too many times to deny in the first two episodes of the final season, and it seems that not even her love for Jon would let her set aside her quest for the crown completely, at least not yet.

But there’s also a possibility that their future child, if the constant foreshadowing in Season 7 comes to fruition, might also be a strong factor in changing her mindset, just like how Vader’s love for Padme and his children compelled him to eventually turn away from the Dark Side. Most importantly, their child might also have a huge role in stopping the second Long Night from happening, however possible that is, if he/she/they have something to do with the prophecy.

Another interesting possibility that’s been pointed out by some fans is that the only person other than Jon that might stop Dany from her road to Mad Queen status is the woman who currently checks up all the boxes of said status.

Cersei may not have the pure intentions that Dany has, but they do have a common factor of wanting to gain and remain in power no thanks to their past experiences of having their father/brother control most of their lives in the early parts of the series (Tywin with Cersei, and Viserys with Dany). I’d personally wager that Dany is still far from Cersei’s “Mad Queen” level, because at the very least Dany still has a few good and true comrades to help keep her feet on the ground. As Tyrion told Cersei, at least Dany has enough brains and empathy to listen to their advice at times, whereas Cersei would never do so unless it benefits only her.

This Cersei-Dany parallel would be a pretty similar situation with, again, Darth Vader and Luke. Just when Luke battles with his father and was almost on the verge of killing him, he stops when he sees his father’s robotic hand, realizing how similar they actually are and how much the Dark Side has affected Vader in the worst ways, which he himself almost fell into if he didn’t see the truth with his own eyes.

After the Battle of Winterfell is over, and Daenerys sees the remnants of the Night King's power while also coming to terms with Jon’s status as the rightful heir, perhaps Dany might reconsider and reflect on her true purpose in attaining the Seven Kingdoms. True there's also a huge possibility that she'll turn even darker than before, especially if her close comrades die/leave her, leaving her feeling more alone and out of place. But perhaps after seeing Cersei the way she is, with no true friends, no family, and no love left in her except the crown on her head, this might lead Dany to see the hard truth; The Iron Throne isn’t worth her humanity.

With that said, whether or not Dany turns into a true antagonist is yet to be seen. Contrary to some fans' predictions of her dying in the end, I actually believe that she'll survive, but not without huge consequences of course, which is carrying the guilt with her for the rest of her life. For some people, continuing to find the will to live can be much harder than dying a quick death. 

Having her killed off easily as a villain without redemption or in childbirth for me is a very big disservice to those who have watched/read her whole journey since Season 1 and the 1st book. I doubt that George R.R. Martin created Dany only to make her a Cersei 2.0 in the end. It would be the such an injustice for the series to conclude with Dany’s faults completely overshadowing the many good things she has done for the ones without power, especially during her time in Essos.

We have yet to see how low Dany would go to seize power as Vader would, and I’m extremely worried about how much it would affect everyone’s view of her till the very end, especially as a character that was so beloved for the whole 7 seasons, only to have her hated by most without proper redemption at the final season. Yes, as a GOT fan I’m glad that Dany’s being given a wakeup call that her idea of ruling has its flaws and does not suit everybody. But if she is really meant to betray Jon and the rest, I seriously wish that whatever payoff the writers have for Dany will be worth it in the end. Especially when there’re only a handful of episodes left.

And if people really think that Jon would easily leave Dany just like that, then boy, have they not been paying attention to Jon’s character development. Jon has already chosen duty over love several times, with one of those choices leading indirectly to his first love’s death. I highly doubt that Jon would ever leave Dany alone like that, even with all her faults, especially if she’s with child and if they do get married even if out of duty.

Just like how Padme never stopped believing that there is good in Anakin till her dying breath, it’s in Jon’s persona that he would do everything in his power to keep Daenerys from falling completely into the dark and feeling alone. I won’t be surprised if Jon would choose to take the fall for/with Daenerys if she is to be punished for whatever wrongdoing she’s about to do. That’s just the type of guy he is.

With that said, we have no choice but to wait until Episode 3 and 4 to really see where Daenerys’ morality will be going. As with every season, with every new episode that comes out, anything is possible. I still hold onto the hope that the writers know exactly what they’re doing with Daenerys and that it’ll be true to what George R.R. Martin really intended for her, although I’m already a bit wary at how they’re currently handling her responses. If her path is to go the same way as Vader’s like I guessed, I can only hope that they can do enough justice to make her memory worthwhile.

If not... there’s always hope for the books. And fanfiction.

[padawanlost]

"How does Anakin Skywalker having a padawan in The Clone Wars series contract Revenge of the Sith?" "It contradicts it, among other things, by making Anakin's rage at being denied a seat on the Jedi Council in Revenge of the Sith nonsensical. Of course if he'd trained an apprentice the decision to deny him the rank of Master would be enraging. Even though Ahsoka's training went unfinished it would still be pretty unreasonable of the council to do so. +++

The whole point is that even though it was a special circumstance, engineered carefully by Palpatine, there had never been a mere Knight on the council & since Anakin did not view himself as any mere Jedi, in that moment his arrogant and proud nature, constantly bubbling beneath the surface, shines through. Having a Padawan undercuts the meaning of that whole scene.“ What do you think about this fan’s opinion?            

As you mayknow Iwholeheartedly believe Anakin deserved the rank of Master. Ahsoka’sexistence doesn’t change that at all. Even before her existence (TCW), Anakin wasalready known and respected for his role in the Clone Wars. On the post I justlinked I explain exactly why I think Anakin deserved the rank and why he didn’tget one.

I just wantto point out one thing: Anakin did not view himself more than a mere Jedi. Hecould be arrogant because of his powers but when it comes to his place in theJedi Order, he was terribly insecure. He believed himself to be more powerfulthan them (and that’s where he arrogance showed) but he never believed he belonged there more than they did orthat he was better Jedi than they were.

Anakinwanted the rank because he knew he deserved. If Obi-wan deserved an unorthodox promotionfor killing a Sith Lord and fighting in the war, why didn’t Anakin deserve ontoo for the exact same reason? And here’s the thing people overlook, when theytalked to Anakin they had already decided to use Anakin to spy on Palpatine. Theonly reason they allowed Anakin a sit in the Council was Palpatine’s politicalpressure and because they wanted something from Anakin. So, if they werewilling to break protocol to scheme against the Chancellor, why further alienatethe person they needed by humiliating him and denying a promotion he deserved?Because they were biased. They were so against Anakin, they played right intotheir enemies hands.

The real pointof that scene, wasn’t Anakin’s arrogance or Ahsoka’s existence, it was to showus how out of their depth the Jedi were and how they played a role in their owndemise because of it.  With that mind, Ahsoka’sexistence undercuts nothing. IMO, it makes the scene even more affective byshowing us exactly why Anakin deserved it, why it was denied and politically ineptthe Jedi Order was.